Published: November 13, 2009 09:17 am      

11 students hurt in bus crash

Children on their way to choir rehearsal

Times-Tribune Staff Report

The driver of a Mercury Mountaineer was admitted to the University of Kentucky hospital after his vehicle reportedly collided with a Laurel County school bus Thursday morning.

The collision happened about 8:30 a.m. on KY 1006 near the Sublimity Elementary School, south of London.

The bus had come from Hunter Hills Elementary, just north of Corbin on U.S. 25.

It was carrying 14 students, a driver and another adult, according to Greg Smith, Laurel assistant superintendent.

The students were reportedly choir members on their way to London’s First Baptist Church to rehearse for a Thursday night performance.

Eleven of the students were taken to local hospitals as a precautionary measure, said Smith.

Nine went to St. Joseph hospital in London and two to Baptist Regional Medical Center in Corbin.

Angela Calvert, 31, the driver of the bus, was among those taken to local hospitals.

Smith said none of the riders on the bus were seriously injured.

Jeffrey G. House, 41, of London was the driver of the Mercury, according to London Police.

He reportedly crossed the center line of the road and collided with the bus on the front left corner just below the driver’s seat.

Calvert reportedly told police she blew her horn in an attempt to get House’s attention, but to no avail, and put on her brakes in an attempt to avoid the collision.

She said House never looked up even at the point when the vehicles met.

An investigation by LPD Sgt. Matthew Moore determined House was driving on a suspended driver’s license. Criminal charges are pending.

Others assisting at the scene include London police officers Jeremy Shell, Bryon Lawson and Sgt. Kenny Jones, the London Fire Department, Laurel County Rescue Squad and the Laurel County Ambulance Service.