A Seneca County Sheriff’s vehicle collided with a Penn Yan school bus Wednesday morning, sending multiple people to the hospital and triggering an emergency response from several agencies.
The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. at the intersection of Pre-Emption Road and State Route 54. According to the Yates County Sheriff’s Office, the unmarked Chevrolet Impala failed to stop at a stop sign and struck the school bus, which was carrying three students.
The driver of the sheriff’s vehicle was Deputy Andrew Mateo, 22, of Seneca Falls. Deputy Colton Rice, 21, of Clyde, was riding in the passenger seat. Both are currently attending the Basic Course for Police Officers at the Southern Tier Law Enforcement Academy in Steuben County.
The school bus was driven by 62-year-old David Mulberger of Penn Yan, a driver for the Penn Yan Central School District.
Emergency crews from Penn Yan, Benton, and Dresden fire departments responded, along with Penn Yan Ambulance, Yates County EMS, the Sheriff’s Accident Investigation Unit, and drone teams.
The Yates County Sheriff’s Office issued Mateo a traffic ticket for failing to stop at the posted sign. The full cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Seneca County Sheriff Timothy Thompson released a statement following the crash: “I send my well wishes to all of those involved and wish for speedy recoveries. This accident remains under investigation and we are fully cooperating with the Yates County Sheriff’s Office. It would be improper for me to comment further at this time.”
No serious injuries were reported.
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