Mars Area School District to offer counseling following Thursday bus crash along Three Degree Road
Mars Area School District will offer counseling for its students, following an elementary school bus crash Thursday morning along Three Degree Road that sent multiple individuals to the hospital.
The district released the statement, directed to parents and guardians, on its website Thursday, March 6.
“This message is to inform you that Mars Area School District elementary school bus #21 was involved in an accident this morning along Three Degree Road,” Superintentent Mark Gross said in the statement.
The statement said social workers would be available for any students who may need assistance on Thursday and Monday, March 10.
Gross said the district’s guidance counselors will be available Friday during the in-service day when students will not be in school as well.
According to Adams Area Fire District Chief Talo Capuzzi, an unknown number of children and the driver were injured and taken to Pittsburgh area hospitals after the bus crashed head-on into a tree along the Adams Township road. He said he could not confirm the number or severity of the injuries.
“Any students, who sustained injury and required further medical assistance, were transported to the hospital,” Gross said. “Those students, who showed no signs of injury and were determined by EMS to be ‘not injured,’ were placed on another bus and continued their journey to school.
“Upon arriving at school, these students were checked by the school nurse before reporting to class,” the statement said.
The statement continued to thank the first responders and school personnel for their “quick and diligent response to this accident.”
“In addition, we appreciate your patience and cooperation as we make every effort to safely transport tour children to and from school,” the statement said.
The superintendent asked that specific questions or concerns be directed to the district's transportation office at transportation@marsk12.org.
