School Bus Crash

Type of Incident: Motor Vehicle Collision involving a School Bus – Property Damage

Date and Time: April 10, 2018 / 0757 hours

Location: Racetrack Road (MD Rt. 589) @ Beauchamp Road, Berlin, Worcester County, MD

Vehicle(s): Vehicle #1 - 2005 International School Bus

Vehicle #2 - 2001 Volkswagen Passenger Car

Driver/passengers(s)/pedestrian:

Driver of Vehicle #1- Richard Fair, 77 yoa – Milton, DE – Not Injured

Passengers of Vehicle #1: Twenty-four (24) students – Not Injured

Driver of Vehicle #2- Brian William Raschka, 32 yoa, Berlin, MD - Not Injured

On Tuesday, April 10, 2018, at approximately 0757 hours, the Maryland State Police Berlin Barrack responded to a motor vehicle collision involving a school bus and a passenger car at the intersection of Racetrack Road (MD Rt. 589) and Beauchamp Road, Berlin, Worcester County, Maryland.

The investigation revealed the operator of the school bus (Vehicle #1), Mr. Fair, failed to yield the right of way when turning left and struck the passenger car (Vehicle #2), operated by Mr. Raschka, on the driver’s side. The contact caused the passenger car to skid off the right side of the roadway.

The school bus was occupied by twenty-four (24) students and was enroute to the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School (MBS) in Berlin for morning drop off.

Fire and EMS units from the Showell Volunteer Fire Department responded to the scene to evaluate all the parties involved. The Principal of the Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic School, Mr. Mark Record, along with several other administrators from MBS also arrived on scene to assist.

Mr. Raschka received minor injuries and was treated on scene. No other injuries were reported. The school bus was able to complete the transport of the children to MBS.

The driver of the school bus (Vehicle #1), Mr. Fair, was charged with failing to yield right of way to a vehicle approaching from the opposite direction when turning left.