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Bus driver’s actions credited with saving students from injury

Marshall Gorby/A Dodge Ram pickup truck rear-ended a Miami East school bus around 8:15 a.m Friday morning, March 19, 2010, on Mill Road in Miami County. One student was checked out by Elizabeth Township paramedics on the scene. Other students were transferred to another bus.The driver of the pick up truck was treated at the scene. No one was transported for medical care.

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By By Katherine Ullmer, Staff Writer Updated 6:08 PM Friday, March 19, 2010

ELIZABETH TWP., Miami County — A school bus driver’s quick reactions were credited with preventing serious injuries to students in an accident Friday, March 19.

Detective Tim Moore of the Miami County Sheriff’s Office said the minor crash involved a Miami East school bus and a pickup truck that rammed into the back of the bus as it stopped for students to board at 8585 Mill Road.

Bus driver Wylena Hahn stopped at 8:16 a.m. to pick up two children headed for Miami East Elementary School, Moore said.

The children were standing in the driveway on the opposite side of the street waiting to cross in front of the bus to get to the front door of the bus when Hahn checked her mirrors and saw the truck coming at the bus from behind. She waved to the children to stop and stay where they were, Moore said.

The black Dodge Ram, a full-sized pickup driven by David Ratcliff, 37, of Elizabeth Twp., rammed into the back of the stopped bus, knocking the bumper under the bus and possibly totalling the truck, Moore said. The impact moved the bus forward, he said, and had the children been crossing the street at that time, the bus could have been shoved into them, he said.

“Luckily she (Hahn) was doing what she was supposed to do,” he said. “It could have been much worse. Luckily, it was just minor,” he said.

Both the bus and truck were headed east on Mill Road, he said.

Ratcliff, who probably was going about 35 miles per hour, which is less than the speed limit, was cited for failure to maintain an assured clear distance, Moore said. Ratcliff said his window was frosting up and with the glare of the sunrise, he did not see the stopped bus, Moore said.

The bus had 10 to 15 students on it, he said. The lone injury on the bus was a girl who said she hit her head, possibly on a window, he said.

Ratcliff also had a minor injury, Moore said. Casstown paramedics checked students at the scene, and the girl was released to her parents. Ratcliff did not go to the hospital, Moore said. The rest of the students were transported by another bus to their school, and the damaged bus and the truck were towed away, he said.

Mill Road was closed during investigation of the accident.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2341 or kullmer@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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