WEST HARTFORD, Hartford County, Conn., Sept. 30, 2026 — A car and a short school bus that collided Monday morning, September 28, at Albany Avenue and Huntington Drive, left one child aboard the bus hurt, according to a report shared shortly after the crash.
The crash, reported around 7:30 a.m., involved a Jeep and a short school bus at the Albany Avenue (Route 44) and Huntington Drive intersection, the report said. Both vehicles reportedly came to rest on the opposite side of the road from where the collision occurred, though the sequence of events has not been confirmed.
One child on the bus reported neck pain and was taken by ambulance on a basic life support level to Connecticut Children's Medical Center, according to the report. No other injuries were mentioned in the information available. It is not known whether any adults involved, including the driver of the car, were hurt.
The cause of the collision has not been released, and it is not clear whether either driver was cited. This report is based on preliminary information, and details may change as more becomes available.
We hope everyone who was hurt makes a full and speedy recovery.
A Common Misconception About School Bus Crashes
Many people assume crashes involving school buses are common and getting more frequent given how often buses are on the road. The data does not support that. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1,079 people were killed in school-transportation-related traffic crashes from 2014 through 2023, a span of ten years covering millions of bus trips nationwide.
That works out to roughly 108 deaths a year across the entire country, a small fraction of overall traffic fatalities. School buses remain one of the more heavily regulated and structurally protected vehicle types on the road, with high seating positions and compartmentalized interiors designed to limit injury in a collision.
The bigger risk in these crashes often falls on occupants of the other vehicle, not the children aboard the bus. That pattern holds across most reported bus collisions, regardless of how severe the initial impact looks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does speed matter in a crash like this?
Yes. Even modest increases in speed raise the force of impact and the likelihood of injury, particularly at intersections where vehicles cross paths at angles.
Why is distracted driving especially risky near school buses?
A moment looking away from the road can mean missing a stopped bus, a flashing signal, or a child crossing, and reaction time drops sharply once a driver is already distracted.
Do weather or road conditions play a role in intersection crashes?
Wet pavement, glare, and poor visibility can all extend stopping distances and make it harder to judge another vehicle's speed, especially during morning commute hours.
What should I do right after a crash involving a bus?
Stay at the scene, check for injuries, call 911, and cooperate with responding officers. If you were a passenger or witness, note what you saw as soon as you can, since memories fade quickly.
What to Do After a Bus Accident in West Hartford, CT
If you or a child were involved in a bus collision, seek a medical evaluation even if injuries seem minor at first. Neck and back pain, in particular, can take hours to appear.
Keep any paperwork from the hospital or ambulance crew, and write down what you remember about the crash while it's fresh, including where each vehicle ended up and who else was nearby. If your child was on the bus, ask the school district for its incident report and keep a record of who you spoke with and when.
Follow up with your family doctor after any emergency room visit, and give yourself time to process what happened. A collision involving young children tends to feel more unsettling than the injury reports alone convey.
