Middle Island schoolbus crash sends 4 kids, 1 aide to hospital, say cops

A chain reaction accident sent four school children and a bus aide to the hospital Wednesday when the school bus struck the rear of a taxi in Middle Island, Suffolk police said.

The students and the aide were taken to St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson for observation, police said.

The bus had crashed into a Lincoln taxi that was going west on Middle Country Road near Arnold Drive and had stopped for a flashing yellow signal in front of the Middle Island firehouse, police said.

Then a third vehicle, a Chevy truck, hit the bus, police said.

None of the drivers were hurt in the crash, which occurred about 3:15 p.m., police said.

Other details, including the school district of the students, were not immediately available from police.