Maine RSU 18 School Bus Rear Ended While Stopped, Lights Flashing

According to a press release from Maine Department of Public Safety Spokeswoman Shannon Moss, an RSU 18 school bus was rear-ended as it was transporting children home at the end of the day on Tuesday.

Moss said that the crash happened at about 3 pm Tuesday afternoon as the bus was at a full stop with lights flashing and sign deployed. The bus was stopped facing south on Route 8 near Acadia Cove Road.

While the bus was stopped, a 45-year-old woman, Kristen Carlson of Belgrade, was lawfully stopped behind the bus waiting for the lights to stop flashing. While she was sitting there, her Ford Fusion was slammed into from behind by a 24-year-old driver.

The 24-year-old, Michael Grier Jr, was driving a Dodge Caravan when he rear-ended Carlson in the Fusion. The impact of the Caravan pushed the Fusion into and partially under the bus.

Moss reports that the occupants of the Fusion were taken to an area hospital for evaluation but were eventually released. The driver of the Caravan, nor any of the 7 people on the school bus (6 children and a driver) were reported injured. Though the children were still evaluated at the scene as a precaution.

Parents of students who ride that particular RSU 18 bus have been notified of the crash.