2 students, 2 drivers injured in school bus crash, officials say

A 91-year-old driver suffered critical injuries in Dix Hills after hitting the rear of a school bus that was stopped at an intersection Thursday, Suffolk police said.

He was taken to Southside Hospital in Bay Shore to be treated for bleeding from the brain and numerous broken bones, police said.

Two of the 19 high school-age students on the bus and their driver were treated and released from Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip, police said.

The seriously injured man, a Wheatley Heights resident, was going north on Route 231 when he failed to stop at Macniece Road and hit the bus about 11:45 a.m., police said.

He may have had a medical episode, Second Precinct detectives said. His Hyundai was impounded for a safety check, while the school bus was inspected by the Suffolk County Police Department Motor Carrier Safety Section, police said. No infractions were issued, police said.

Detectives said witnesses could call them at 631-854-8252.

Correction: An earlier version of this story misstated the number of students injured.

By John Valenti

john.valenti@newsday.com,ellen.yan@newsday.com

John Valenti, a reporter at Newsday since 1981, has been honored nationally by the Associated Press and Society of the Silurians for investigative, enterprise and breaking news reporting, as well as column writing, and is the author of “Swee'pea,” a book about former New York playground basketball star Lloyd Daniels. Valenti is featured in the Emmy Award-winning ESPN 30-for-30 film “Big Shot.”