School bus driver dies after crashing into tree in West Windsor

A 73-year-old school bus driver from Monroe veered off the road and struck a tree on Zaitz Farm Road in West Windsor Wednesday afternoon. He was taken to the University Medical Center at Princeton in Plainsboro, where he was pronounced dead.

The school bus driver may have had a medical issue that caused the vehicle to leave the roadway, police said. The bus struck a tree branch and then struck another tree and came to its final resting place partially off of the roadway.

Seven West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South students were passengers on the bus. Several of the students attempted to assist the driver after the collision. Care for the driver, whose name is currently being withheld, was turned over to West Windsor Emergency Services and Capital Health Mobile Intensive Care Unit.

One 14-year-old student reported pain to her wrist and hand area but declined any medical attention at the scene. No other injuries were reported. The school bus sustained minor damage from the crash.

The death is the third crash-related fatality in the Princeton area in three days. In all three cases, the drivers left the roadway for various reasons and struck trees.

In addition to police, emergency workers, and the Mercer County Prosecutor’s Office Serious Collision Unit, West Windsor-Plainsboro School Superintendent David Adderhold responded to the scene and is fielding questions from community members.

West Windsor Police Officer Frank LaTorre was the investigating officer and can be contacted at (609) 799-1222 or at LaTorre@WestWindsorPolice.com.

Avatar of Krystal Knapp

Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.

2 Comments

  1. Just like celebrity death’s, Princeton-area automobile accident deaths come in trees ?

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