Thursday, February 19, 2015

WATERBURY POLICE IDENTIFY TWO KILLED IN SCHOOL BUS HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH A PICKUP TRUCK. SPEED PLAYED A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THIS MASSIVE CRASH






FEBRUARY 18, 2015
WATERBURY, CT (WFSB) 

Waterbury police have released the names of the two men who were killed in a school bus crash on Tuesday afternoon.

Police said 24-year-old Jeremy Rucker, of Naugatuck, and Michael Maldonado, 23, of Waterbury, were in the truck that collided with the bus on Watertown Road at a little after 4 p.m. Tuesday.

Waterbury police said the two men died of blunt force trauma resulting from the crash.

Preliminary investigation has revealed that Rucker was driving the Dodge Dakota south on Watertown Avenue, and the truck had crossed the center line, striking the school bus.

Police said it is unclear why the vehicle lost control.

There were no students on the school bus at the time of the crash, however the bus driver sustained minor injuries.

The impact of the crash forced the school bus to crash into the gate next to Route 8.

The crash remains under investigation pending the outcome of crash reconstruction, speed analysis and toxicology reports.  It is apparent though that at least speed played a role, considering the magnitude of the damage.