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Driver Ran Light In School Bus Crash That Injured Ridgewood Special Needs Student, 11: Police

UPDATE: A multi-vehicle crash in Ridgewood that sent a school bus driver, an 11-year-old special needs student and four other people to the hospital occurred when the driver ran a red light, the village police chief said.

The bus driver, adult passenger and 11-year-old special needs student were all brought on gurneys to the ambulances following the crash in Ridgewood.

The bus driver, adult passenger and 11-year-old special needs student were all brought on gurneys to the ambulances following the crash in Ridgewood.

Photo Credit: Boyd A. Loving for DAILY VOICE
The crash occurred at South Van Dien and East Ridgewood avenues in Ridgewood.

The crash occurred at South Van Dien and East Ridgewood avenues in Ridgewood.

Photo Credit: Boyd A. Loving for DAILY VOICE
A concerned Dr. Leonard Fitts, Ridgewood's interim superintendent of schools, went to the crash scene.

A concerned Dr. Leonard Fitts, Ridgewood's interim superintendent of schools, went to the crash scene.

Photo Credit: Boyd A. Loving for DAILY VOICE
The driver of the Land Rover and his 15-year-old daughter were also hospitalized following the crash in Ridgewood.

The driver of the Land Rover and his 15-year-old daughter were also hospitalized following the crash in Ridgewood.

Photo Credit: Boyd A. Loving
Three vehicles in all, including the school bus, were involved in the crash at South Van Dien and East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood.

Three vehicles in all, including the school bus, were involved in the crash at South Van Dien and East Ridgewood Avenue in Ridgewood.

Photo Credit: Boyd A. Loving for DAILY VOICE
The crash occurred at South Van Dien and East Ridgewood avenues in Ridgewood around 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19.

The crash occurred at South Van Dien and East Ridgewood avenues in Ridgewood around 4 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 19.

Photo Credit: Boyd A. Loving for DAILY VOICE
The vehicles had to be towed from the scene in Ridgewood.

The vehicles had to be towed from the scene in Ridgewood.

Photo Credit: Boyd A. Loving for DAILY VOICE

The bus was headed north on South Van Dien Avenue when "it apparently went through a red light and was hit by a Mazda CX-9 and a Land Rover" at East Ridgewood Avenue, Police Chief Jacqueline Lutchcke said following the 4 p.m. crash on Monday, Sept. 19.

The incident was captured by a dashboard camera on a police cruiser that happened to be in the area, responders at the scene said.

The girl who was injured is a special needs student who attends the Ridgewood public school system, said Dr. Leonard Fitts, the district's interim schools superintendent.

Fitts went to the scene and watched with obvious concern as the alert and conscious girl, fitted with a neck brace, was brought to a waiting ambulance seated upright on a stretcher.

The adult female passenger who was with him walked to a gurney in a neck brace. The driver of the Land Rover and his 15-year-old daughter got into the ambulance under their own steam.

The driver of the Mazda refused medical attention at the scene, Lutchke said.

The bus driver was clearly the most seriously injured. However, Luthcke said none of the injuries was considered life-threatening.

A police investigation was continuing, the chief said.

Boyd A. Loving took the photos and contributed to this account.

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