SPRINGFIELD — A school bus driver has been hospitalized after a head-on crash with a car, according to Springfield Police reports.
One student was on board the bus at the time, but police reported she was uninjured.
Kevin D. McKenzie was driving a white sedan west on 11th Street toward Helen Avenue shortly before 8 a.m. Friday when he crossed the yellow line into oncoming traffic and crashed head on with a school bus, according to police reports. Joseph Brown, driver of the school bus, attempted to avoid the collision, honking the bus’s horn, but he was unable to get the other driver’s attention, officers reported.
McKenzie said he swerved because he dropped a cigarette. A witness to the crash told police she was driving in front of McKenzie and saw him cross the yellow line several times.
Brown was taken by EMS crews to a local hospital.
McKenzie was charged with failure to maintain his traffic lane.