Deputies investigating bus crash in Rushville

Posted at: 09/07/2012 10:08 AM | Updated at: 09/07/2012 4:11 PM
By: Joangel Concepcion | WHEC.com

Some scary moments for students from Marcus Whitman in Ontario County and a local boy is being called a hero after helping several students out of a school bus that flipped on its side in an early morning accident. The good news is the kids escaped with only bumps and bruises.

The accident happened around 7:30am Friday at the intersection of County Road 1 and Baldwin Road in Rushville, about a quarter mile from Marcus Whitman School. The Ontario County Sheriff’s Office says heavy fog conditions may be to blame.

Brandon Masur said, “We heard a crash and then we saw the bus drag right across the road.”

Brandon Masur is just like any other 10th grader, wrapping up his first week of school. But on Friday, Brandon Masur is also considered a hero.

Masur said, “I got out of the car and ran to the bus to help. I opened the emergency door and tried to get the kids out.”

Brandon was on his way to school Friday morning with his father when a pickup truck slammed into a school bus, carrying 26 students, ranging from third graders to high school seniors. The bus went off the embankment, turned into a cornfield and rolled over. Brandon says it was like a scene out of a movie, but that didn’t stop him from immediately springing into action.

Masur said, “I don't know, it was just a reflex. I didn't know what else to do. I just tried to do anything I could to help them I guess.”

Brandon says he moved several backpacks to get to the kids. He says many were screaming afraid. Some were in serious pain. Nine students had to be taken to the hospital along with the driver of the truck, Charles Lovejoy, 43, of Middlesex, and the bus driver, Dawn Scheutzow, 44, of Penn Yan.

Brandon’s farther went to help Lovejoy. He says his son went above and beyond for those students.

Eric Masur, Brandon’s father, said, “Oh, I was very proud of him. He’s a terrific kid and it was wonderful to see he had the insight and where-with-all to know just what to do to help out.”

It wasn’t necessarily the way these students were expecting to end their first week of school. But the good news is everyone is alright and for many of these students, it’s all thanks to a teenager.

Eric Masur said, “Under the circumstances, I think he did a wonderful job and I'm just so, so proud of him.”

The superintendent of Marcus Whitman Schools says he sent a phone message out to every parent in the district, notifying them of the accident. Many of the parents of the students on the bus showed up on scene. Teachers also driving to school pulled over to help.

The accident is still investigation so the Ontario County Sheriff’s Office says charges may be pending. Investigators spent the morning reconstructing the scene. They expect to know exactly what happened by the end of the weekend.

To see video of the crash from our news partners at the Messenger Post Newspapers, click here.

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