No injuries after school bus rear ended in Monday snowstorm

LACONIA — There were no injuries following a traffic accident between a Toyota Prius and a school bus on Union Avenue Monday afternoon. The Toyota was traveling northbound on Union Avenue near the intersection with Elm Street in Lakeport Square, when it slid into and under the back bumper of a school bus carrying Laconia High School students around 2:16 p.m. on March 24.

Shawn Soucek, the driver of the Toyota, was heading to work when he said he lost control of his vehicle.

“I tried to stop, could not stop,” he said. "I slipped on the slush and ended up in the back end.” 

Soucek said his car had snow tires.

Laconia Superintendent Bob Champlain confirmed there were no injuries.

“We're very happy that no one was hurt, and, at the same time, that's a very scary situation,” he said.

The front driver side of the car was seriously damaged, and would not start following the accident, and needed to be towed from the scene, according to Laconia Fire Chief Tim Joubert. The bus sustained minimal damage to the back bumper. Joubert said the car slid under the bus, and due to the snow on the ground, the tires locked up as it went on the downward slope toward the intersection. Joubert said this type of snow creates dangerous driving conditions.

“It's a thick, greasy snow that kind of gets in between your tire tread and everything,” he said. “It’s just really messy out there right now.”

As the car began slipping, Soucek said he had a decision to make. Let the car hit the bus, or potentially hit a pedestrian clearing off their car on the side of the road. When his car hit the bus, he immediately checked to make sure the kids were unharmed.

“I was trying to avoid hurting anyone,” Soucek said. “Me, I don't really care too much about, as long as other people were fine. That was my concern.”

After 30 minutes sitting on Union Avenue, the bus drove to Railroad Avenue off Elm Street. A second bus came to pick up the high school students and continue on the bus route. Champlin said the First Student relief bus came from Gilford, and First Student sent a second bus to Elm Street School, as the bus used for the high school drop offs then would make an elementary route.

Champlin also took efforts to ensure students at all the Laconia schools got home safe and sound, and as quickly as possible. He notified parents midday there would be no afterschool activities, including sports, the high school’s Project EXTRA, the REAL Initiative at the middle school, or any other clubs. He was out at all the schools, ensuring all buses left. He also contacted the school principals, the bus company and the Department of Public Works to treat the roads.

“They are out treating the roads, and our hope is that all of the rest of our dismissal routine goes smoothly,” he said.

Since noon, firefighters have been busy responding to calls relating to the snow, including another traffic accident, and some wires down. Joubert said these calls are expected every year, as spring snow seems to catch people by surprise.

“It's always these last storms that we have, people just forget that it’s still wintertime, and get all excited,” he said. “You still got to take your time.”