CHESHIRE, Mass. — Route 8 was closed to traffic in Cheshire early Thursday afternoon because of a major accident involving a bus and Ford Taurus. State police were reporting "multiple injuries, some serious."
According to scanner reports, three people were considered "critical" and four as minor injuries. The accident occurred just after noontime near the crosswalk just north of Lanesborough Road.
The southbound Berkshire Regional Transit Authority bus veered off the road and into the front yard of a white house on the east side. Both vehicles sustained major front-end damage.
Cheshire Fire Assistant Chief Michael Biagini confirmed seven people total from both the Taurus and the bus were taken to the hospital. He did not know how many people were on the bus at the time and did not know if those in the car were wearing seat belts.
Berkshire Gas was contacted because the bus came to rest next to the gas meter on the house.
"The homeowner was home at the time in the house but was uninjured," Biagini said "They're building a temporary wall inside the house before we can remove the bus."
He referred further questions to the district attorney's office.
A motorist several cars behind the bus said he had come through the light at West Mountain Road and was at about Cheshire Liquor Center when the crash occurred.
"As we got by the driveway, there was a big poof of smoke ... The cars in front pulled over, I pulled over, and they got out and ran up," he said.
The driver said he did not see the accident occur because the bus had just pulled around the slight bend in the road toward the lake and the view was blocked.
Four or five ambulances responded to the scene, he said.
Traffic was beginning to move at about 1:23 p.m.
Village Truck Sales towing was on the scene, but the house had to be secured before the bus can be removed.
We have contacted BRTA for a statement on the incident.
Crash on Rt 8 Chesire involves transit bus and van, and then into a residence. Serious injuries confirmed. Rt8 remains closed.
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