MATTAWANA - Snowy conditions on River Road in Bratton Township caused a school bus carrying eight students to roll over early Tuesday morning. No major injuries were sustained during the incident, Pennsylvania State Police Cpl. Jamie Brumbaugh said.
"Everyone was very lucky," Brumbaugh said. "The situation could have been a lot worse."
At approximately 7:27 a.m., bus driver Sheila Louise Umbenhour was transporting the juveniles to Christian schools in Belleville when she lost control of the bus along a left curve, according to the police report. The bus traveled across the eastbound lane and struck an embankment, causing it to spin and roll onto the right side, police said.
Umbenhour was transported to Lewistown Hospital with some minor bruises and a sprain, Brumbaugh said. The children on the bus, five boys and three girls, sustained minor bruises and were released to their parents at the scene, he said.
The bus, independently contracted through J&D's Inc. of Lewistown, has been reported as a total loss by Betsy Olson, general manager of J&D's.
"The accident is not related to a driving error, but to dangerous conditions," Olson said. "Within seconds, the bus was on its side. The emergency vehicles and tow truck that arrived also had issues with sliding. The whole scene was a mess."
Umbenhour has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, Olson said. She has been driving school buses since 1991, Olson added.
Pennsylvania State Police Lewistown was assisted at the scene by McVeytown Fire Co., McVeytown Ambulance and Fame EMS.
