Delaware Aide Killed in School Bus Crash

FRANKFORD, Del. — A school bus aide here was killed when the bus she was riding collided with a van on Wednesday, police said.

At about 11:43 a.m., the school bus driver was traveling eastbound on Daisey Rd. and stopped at a stop sign at the intersection of Daisey Rd. and Dupont Blvd., according to a news release from the Delaware State Police. A van was traveling northbound on Dupont Blvd. in the right lane, approaching the intersection.

The bus driver apparently failed to remain stopped at the stop sign and pulled across the northbound lanes of Dupont Blvd. directly in front of the van, police said. The operator of the van swerved left in an effort to miss the bus, but was apparently unable to do so, and the front of the van struck the right side of the bus.

The bus driver was properly restrained and was uninjured. Seated on the right side of the bus was an aide, Barbara Atkins. Atkins was removed from the scene by emergency responders and taken to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Atkins was not wearing a seat belt, although one was available. The bus driver does not appear to have been impaired, according to police.

The operator of the van sustained minor injuries, and does not appear to have been impaired. He was also taken to the hospital, and was treated and released.

There were no students aboard the bus at the time, police told Delmarva Now.

Charges are pending as the Delaware State Police Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate the incident.