Caught on camera: School bus and town plow crash in Monroe storm pileup
Officials say public schools were closed Tuesday, and it remains unclear what school or district the bus belongs to. Authorities say the bus was empty and returning to its lot when the collision occurred.
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A dramatic pileup involving a school bus and a town snowplow in Monroe was caught on camera during Tuesday’s snowstorm — one of nearly 200 crashes reported across Orange County.
The video shows several cars already spun out and stopped behind a disabled private school bus on Seven Springs Mountain Road. It also shows the Town of Monroe snowplow driver standing partly out of the cab, with one foot on the truck’s step rail and a hand on his open door, as he tries to stop the vehicle while it skids forward.
According to officials, the plow had already stopped behind several disabled cars, and the driver was getting out to help stranded motorists when a vehicle coming up the road struck the back of the plow. The impact, captured bystander video, pushed the plow into a stopped car, which then hit the bus. No injuries were reported.
Town officials say Seven Springs Mountain Road is maintained by the county and the plow operator was driving to another road nearby in town that was on his route.
Officials say public schools were closed Tuesday, and it remains unclear what school or district the bus belongs to. Authorities say the bus was empty and returning to its lot when the collision occurred.
Drivers in Monroe told News 12 on Tuesday that they struggled on the roads during the height of the storm.
“Very slick. Even with four-wheel drive, you got to take it easy,” said Kevin Fisher, of New Windsor.
“It’s kind of slippery. They haven’t treated most of the roads. I almost went through a stop sign with full brakes on,” said Pat Shea, of Monroe.
Orange County Emergency Management says nearly 200 crashes were reported Tuesday — more than double a typical day.
Officials say they saw no indication that the roadway involved in the pileup was untreated or in unacceptable condition, and added they did not receive widespread complaints about plowing.
News 12 reached out to New York state police for more details but has not heard back yet.
