Mass. Students Rescued from Tipping School Bus That Got Stuck in Mud

The bus driver told authorities they had pulled over due to several unruly students before getting stuck

More than a dozen grade school students and two adults were rescued from a school bus after the vehicle began to sink on the side of the road in Hubbardston, Massachusetts.

The incident happened on Wednesday just after noon local time on New Templeton Road, per Boston News 7. At least 20 Hubbardston Center School students had to evacuate using the emergency exit door at the rear of the bus near the roadway. Hubbardston Center School is part of the Quabbin Regional School District.

The bus driver had pulled over during the route due to several unruly children, they told authorities.

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"According to the operator of the bus, Loida Delgado, a few of the children on the bus were acting up. When the driver attempted to pull over on the side of the road, the bus entered a swampy area and became stuck in the mud. Due to the soft ground the bus sank on one side and was sitting at a 45-degree angle," Hubbardston Police Chief Ryan Couture wrote in a press release.

The driver will not be cited for the incident, police said, per Boston News 7.

“There's a swamp there. And she pulled over into the swampy area a little bit. And the bus began to tip over,” Couture continued.

WCVB 5 spoke with Omar Soffan and Kaya Soffan, a father and son from Paxton, Massachusetts, who happened to be driving behind the school bus and witnessed the situation unfold. The pair got out of their vehicle to help the frightened children, who they said had been crying and hitting the windows.

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“Seeing that the bus was very tippy, I ran back over. And we ripped open the back door. And the kids were just piling on each other trying to get out. So, we took everybody out,” Omar told WCVB 5.

“Honestly, I thought the bus was going to tip over because when it slid off the edge of the road, it began wobbling. And my heart completely sank,” Kaya added.

The JP McCarthy and Sons school bus was towed to Gardner, Massachusetts, according to Couture's press release.

Parents came to pick up some of the children, while a second school bus transported the rest to their destination.

Couture felt that Wednesday’s incident could be a teachable moment for the students.

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"They just got to follow the rules and listen to their bus driver. So they can get home safe," he told WCVB 5.

No injuries were reported.

“We are working in cooperation with the bus company to fully investigate the situation,” a spokesperson for Quabbin Regional School District said, according to Boston 25 News. “We are thankful that no one is hurt and grateful to everyone who helped and assisted with the situation.”

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