State Police Investigating Crash Involving A School Bus

Location: John J. Williams Highway (SR 24) and Bulls Eye Road, approximately 3 miles east of Millsboro, DE

Date and Time of Occurrence: Thursday April 5, 2012 at approximately 7:10 a.m.

Operators and Vehicles:
Operator #1: Lana D. Hemingway, 63, Millsboro, DE
Vehicle #1: 2001 International School Bus (Assigned to Indian River School District)

Operator #2: Michael A. Merchant, 22, Millsboro, DE
Vehicle #2: 2000 Chevy Cavalier

Passengers on School Bus:
9 year old male
9 year old female – Injured
10 year old female
10 year old male – Injured
10 year old female
11 year old female
11 year old female – Injured

All children were from the Millsboro area.


Resume:
Millsboro, DE- The Delaware State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating a fatal motor vehicle collision involving a car and school bus.

At approximately 7:10 a.m. this morning, Lana D. Hemingway was operating a 2001 International School Bus eastbound on SR24 carrying seven juvenile student passengers to Longneck Elementary School. The bus was stopped in the roadway with the red lights flashing and stop sign activated in order to pick up two more children. Michael A. Merchant, who was operating a 2000 Chevy Cavalier, was also eastbound on SR24 when he failed to stop for the school bus. The front of the Cavalier under rode the rear of the school bus upon impact, trapping Merchant in his car. Merchant, who was properly restrained, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.

The bus driver and all of the passengers were safely removed from the bus after the crash. Three children were treated by EMS at the scene and later transported to Beebe Hospital with non life-threatening injuries. Hemingway was not injured.

The roadway was closed for approximately three hours as the crash was investigated and cleared.