School children walked away from the collision between a school bus and a Mercury Sable on Rt. 17 in Whitefield on Wed., Oct. 22. The driver of the 1999 Mercury Sable that crossed the centerline, ricocheted off of the side of the bus and landed in a nearby ditch sustained injuries.
According to North Haven Community School principal Barney Hallowell, the students were on their way back from a state earth science fair in Augusta, heading toward Rockland.
Hallowell said that the bus driver, Julie Brown, did the best she could to avoid a collision and protect the safety of her passengers.
“Our driver handled this very well,” Hallowell said.
Brown and a grade 5/6 teacher, Cathy Lovell, are licensed first responders, according to Hallowell. He said that they didn’t hesitate to help the driver of the car, Linda Hyler of Cushing, who was transported to Maine General Hospital in Augusta.
According to Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office Lt. Rand Maker, Hyler was taken to Two Bridges Regional Jail in Wiscasset following her release from the hospital. Maker said that Hyler was under a bail condition that prevented her from operating a motor vehicle. Hyler’s license has been revoked by the state of Maine, Maker said.
The Whitefield school offered one of their busses and transported the school children to the ferry, Hallowell said.
“The police and EMTs were great. The kids were calm,” he said, adding that he was grateful to the Whitefield school for their help in this situation.
The North Haven Community School held a ceremony for Brown on Fri., Oct. 24 to thank her for her careful driving and commitment to the safety of the school children and teachers on her bus. Hallowell said that Oct. 24 just happens to be School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, recognized by Gov. John Baldacci.
“I think she was appreciative of being appreciated,” he said.