Published: June 03, 2009 07:08 pm      

Hamilton Co. bus driver cited

By KANDACE MCCOY

kandace.mccoy@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — A bus wreck involving a Hamilton County school bus is still under investigation pending “further development of evidence,” the Jefferson County sheriff said.

Tonya Glass, McLeansboro, passed out behind the wheel while she was driving a Hamilton County Unit 10 school bus east on East Littlewood Road, near the Hamilton/Jefferson County line, at approximately 3:43 p.m. May 27 during an afternoon bus route, according to a Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office report.

The bus drifted off the road, striking a culvert, then drifted further off the road, traveling approximately 100 yards and striking a tree, the report indicated.

Officials at the scene reported that when the bus came to a stop off the roadway, students on the bus rendered assistance by turning off the key to the engine. An undetermined number of children were on board at the time of the incident, but none were injured, according to police.

Glass, 41, who was transported to St. Mary’s Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon following the accident, was cited on charges of failure to reduce speed and driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

“The accident is still under investigation, and we’re waiting on further development of evidence,” said Jefferson County Sheriff Roger Mulch.

Glass reportedly told officials at the scene she did not remember what happened prior to the accident. No other vehicles were involved.

Hamilton County Unit 10 Superintendent Vince Mitchell said when the accident occurred students became aware of the seriousness of the situation and turned the bus key off once the bus came to a stop at the side of the road. They then tried to exit the bus to get help from a residence nearby; however, they could not get the bus doors open until emergency personnel arrived at the scene.

“The students escaped what could have been a serious situation,” Mitchell said and commended them for taking action to help.

Some of the students, he said, were picked up at the scene by their parents, while others waited for parents or family members to arrive. Hamilton County Unit 10 also had additional buses at the scene on stand-by.

In addition to the Belle Rive Fire Department and Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, others responding to the scene included Jefferson Fire Protection District, the Illinois State Police and Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office.