Driver cited in Friday crash
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on October 6, 2013 1:50 AM
A veteran Wayne County Public Schools bus driver cited in an early Friday morning accident has been cited by the Highway Patrol and placed on administrative leave by the district pending investigation.
Russell Glenwood Spence Jr., 71, reportedly drove the bus across two westbound lanes of traffic on U.S. 70 from Beston Road. Foggy conditions and low visibility contributed to the two-vehicle accident, officials said.
Six Eastern Wayne High School students were taken to the hospital by ambulance and the other five passengers on the bus were released to parents, David Lewis, executive director of infomration technology services for the schools, said. He was unable to comment on the extent of injuries of any of the students.
The driver and passenger of the van that collided with the bus were also taken to the hospital by emergency personnel.
Lewis confirmed later that Spence was charged with an unsafe movement violation.
Spence, who was hired by the district as a bus driver in November 1998, was not injured, Lewis said.
"He's going to be placed on administrative leave pending the district's investigation," he said. "Basically we're looking at a lot of different things.
"We still don't have a copy of the highway patrolman's official report."