what's with all these school bus accidents? So glad my granddaughter came home early today, she lives off yellowbank, might have been her bus....geesh.

Thank god for the shortage of TR buses! I promise I won't complain anymore that my son at the age of 8 is expected to walk 2 miles to school crossing over bay ave and other major roads. I'll continue to drive him! hope kids are all okay!!!

Your kids walking 2 miles to school because that's state guidelines it has nothing to do with a shortage of buses get your facts straight

Thank God my granddaughter came home early dismissal today. She lives on Ruby Dr. and that was probably her bus......wth going on with these bus accidents? geesh scary

any word on the driver of the pickup truck?

I live nearby and the chopper from News 12 was just flying over. I had heard that the driver of the pickup was hurt badly, but I know that there are always incorrect rumors before we get the whole truth.

Choppers

He died. Turned right on red, despite the numerous signs telling him not to turn on red. Nothing minor about that.

Horrible. RIP.

truck driver died

10 kids hurt minor

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/breaking/School-Bus-Truck-Crash-in-Toms-River-New-Jersey-146313785.html

The bus dented my PTCruiser

misreads Chief Mastronardy's easy to read press release on incident - changes it later when discovers error, pretends never happened. Probably eventually deletes this comment.

Waiting on Chief or Prosecutor to confirm status of pick-up truck occupant. Also added some pictures and parent comments from scene.

The driver of the truck was laying in the street receiving CPR when I passed by a little after 2:30 pm. Ambulances were on their way. I hope he is okay.

Here's another point to ponder. Where was the fire department? Poles down with wires in close proximity to a bus full of children and no fire department response? It's an absolute outrage. The powers that be need to wake up. Tax payers need to let there voices be heard. The Toms River Fire Dept. is a free resource (volunteers) funded by the good citizens of this town. It's this townships obligation to its citizens to utilize that resource for every incident where needed, and this was certainly a warranted response. They are cpr certified, first responder trained and have aed's on all there first due apparatus. It's time we do the right thing, and make a difference with our voice. It's true, there is power in numbers.

why were some of the childen allowed to walk home? Did they inform someone on the scene (i.e. police, school personnel?) Someone is responsible for those children and all should have been escorted onto the replacement bus...what would happen if something happened to one of them on their way home...

thank GOD i picked my daughter up from school today that could of been her bus. i pray that all the kids and the bus driver is ok. i heard that the driver was killed. and if it is true i pray for his family.

Wow, what a bunch of nosy, ignorant, selfish posters we have here. What happened to the driver (He didn't make it)? Where were the fire department (Maybe the police said they weren't needed since it was a traffic light and not a power line)? My kids walks too far (Boo hoo! All our kids walk too far, they need the exercise. We walked a lot further when we were kids)! Why are there so many bus accidents (There are a lot more car/truck/motorcycle/bike accidents. You just hear more about buses because kids are involved and the media knows nosy people like you eat it up)? I'm a taxpayer and I want answers (We are all taxpayers, why should you get special treatment)! Why were the kids allowed to walk home (Take the bubble wrap off your kids so they can grow up and experience real-life situations. These are middle school kids, not preschoolers)? Really people? A man lost his life in a tragic accident, whether it was his fault or not, these kids could be traumatized for quite some time, and this is your response? Why don't we just say a prayer for all involved and move on.

Adding an update now. Police said the pick-up driver died as a result of the accident. Fischer southbound still closed near Yellowbank and no turn onto Yellowbank possible still.

We are just lucky that the students were safe- the bus driver too- but it was the own pick up driver's fault that he will be paying such a price for not listening to the law, and turning on red. I understand that we are all in a rush nowadays, and this has nothing to do with chivalry, but when he was risking not only his life, but others' too... Is that even in our minds?? Simply, we should have more regard for the law, and use this example of why it is important to do so. Thank you to those whom have expressed concern towards the students and driver... I thank God they are alright.

To A Citizen- You forgot that other people have opinions too... not just you. You can say what you want to say, but let other people have their own say in this matter. Honestly, it's a free country, freedom of speech. You cannot flag people down for their perspective. You may disagree, but keep the awful thoughts to yourself. Some of these people are parents whose kids got injured! "Be kinder than necessary, because everyone is fighting their own kind of battle." Seeing their classmates hurt is traumatic. Respect what others believe, or else they have a right to challenge your opinion.

Not to sound glib about a poor guy losing his life, but it sounds to me like he wanted to beat the school bus and raced to make the left onto Yellowbank. When one plays chicken with any moving vehicle that's bigger than you, invariably you'll lose. Sympathies to his family.

Someone passed away in this accident, have some respect people.

Where in this article does it say right on red? It says the driver of the truck was attempting a left turn.

Not specific to this intersection at Yellowbank & Fischer but who was the genius county engineer that came up with the middle left hand turn suicide lanes , the entire length of Fischer Blvd?. Anyone that drives that road should know what I'm talking about.

You go to make a left hand turn in the middle lane and a car coming in the opposite is doing the same thing and it's almost a head on collision.

prayers for the family that lost a family member from the truck. Thank goodness the kids are ok. Hope that they all heal quickly.

Since that intersection was re done with the turning lanes I have seen many near misses with drivers turning onto Yellow bank thinking that they have a green light to do so,It was obvious from the photos that the impact to the P/u was on the Passenger side so he was making a left! Not a right on red! Prayers for all involved.....the Bus may have had a camera that could shed more light as to what happened

Wow what a shame. That intersection is horrible. Irregardless of who's fault it is someone is dead, a bus driver may never be the same again knowing he killed a human being and children witnessing such trauma. We need to be more kinder. It's Easter for god sakes!!!! While people will be celebrating with their loved ones, another family is planning a funeral.

I cant wait to move out of Toms River. Someone lost their life in a tragic accident and look what you people post.

Amy, you said it "in a nut shell". Thank you!

That is a dangerous intersection where there have been numerous accidents. The traffic light should have a leading left green signal to reduce accidents and prevent another fatality.

Condolences to the family and speedy recoveries for physical and emotional injuries as a result of this tragic accident.

People I feel safe posting this bc I heard from numerous people the driver not the bus driver ran thru a red light and that they felt it was due to an existing pre crash health issue. Maybe he had a heart attack behind the wheel and was kinda busy trying to breathe and being in agony to stop. I DONT KNOW for certain nor do the people who were there know every angle. THAT is what INVESTIGATIONS led by the police and DA is for. IMHO our job is to simply say a prayer or think a good thought if you're not the praying type wishing the man who lost his life safe passage and to RIP and that the children heal fully and speedily physically and emotionally. Even kids not on that bus were devastated and on the kids facebooks thats all they could talk about. They made more sense then some of you. idc what school they're in, my daughter is 11 And will be till late August is that young enough to be concerned if GD forbid she walked away dazed from a terrible accident on a walk she would NEVER be allowed on in normal circumstances as we've lived on Shore Blvd for 3 yrs and 7 now behind Bellcrest and we have seen many awful accidents, I got driving anxiety when used to drive far distances after moving to TR. I have never been so scared in recent history as not knowing which bus at first when my 9 yr old was due home in about 10 min when I heard, the helicopters were already arriving and I was reading reports from kids on the scene on my sons page. This was a terrible day for many.

I ran out of room. I wish they'd tell you when you hit the limit instead of letting you pour your heart out only to be told "easy there tolstoy" bit anyway I'll wrap up by saying to the family of the man whose life was lost we don't all Jump to conclusions and if it was a left despite all the kids in the bus who've said otherwise, we all know how fast the school buses drive here, it's crazy. So even then there is probably blame to be shared if anything. Im VERY sorry for your loss. And to all the parents who got that dreaded call tg the kids are ok now from my understanding that they've all gone home and I hope their emotional recovery is swift. We all need to stick together against the bad guys who set out to do bad not fight amongst ourselves but be united neighbors! C'mon people we're capable of so much more; you mostly lol all sound fairly well educated. Thx for letting me have my say, I was terribly shaken for hours over this. I don't know how I made myself go to my sons scrimmage.

Hey buckshot let me add this How can the fire department go if they never dispatch the fire company this is not the fire company means at all trust me they would go and show up if they were dispatched to go but the police department doesn't want the fire department at the scene because then they loose control go to the police department and ask them why the fire company wasent dispatched and see what kind of answers you get it's a joke

50 MPH is too fast on Fischer. Too much traffic and too many cars to keep the speed limit at 50. I have seen many, many close misses on this road. Praying for all those hurt by this incident.

i have buses flying down my strreet all the time they need to slow down

My condolences go out to the family who lost a loved one.
I do need to "vent" however...It may have been the truck drivers fault, but (just saying) that I have been on routes doing the speed limit and school buses fly past me all the time. Yes, they are full of kids. Why totally put blame on anyone. That is why they are called accidents. In my opinion, maybe both sides should be held responsible for their actions?
Oh I agree with A Citizen, parents should take the bubble wrap off their kids once in a while...children today are so spoiled because some give and do EVERYTHING for their children to the point that they can't function on their own when necessary. Listen to conversations these kids have one day...you will always hear " I and me" and never "we and us". No wonder that we are raising a generation of me, me me spoiled bullies.

Well, I usually don't read this but, this time I did. I agree with quite a few of you. I think when children are involved that person was right. it will get tremendous headlines. To parents and grandparents which I am, it is a scary thing to hear and yes, emotions run high. To the persons who agreed that the fire dept. was most likely called off would be the police making that call. Lets me think police had it together and first aid team. I commend them. To the person who reminded everyone these people are all volunteers that give their time up to help us citizens deserve a big Thank You. To the response team in the choppers flying over to medi vac. Thank You. To the family of the driver my sympathy to them They are in for a rocky road of grief and finger pointing of their lost one. To the parents of the children that were on that bus. God Bless that they were all okay. Terrible fright. To the bus driver who did what he/she could to see to it that they survived good job. I agree speeding on that road and yes, I too have had bus drivers flying past me. But, bottom line is there was a tragic accident and someone lost their life. RIP and can we all take a breather on that before fireing away. The person isn't even buried yet. Peace.

I worked with Tom Grouss for years. He was a recently retired hard working electrician who was intelligent and caring. He always had a smile, and is somewhere relieved that no one else was hurt.

Fischer Blvd has become Raceway Park. I agree with one of the above posters. The speed limit is all over the place. And I will say that virtually NOBODY slows down when when it hits 40 near the firehouse. I have to turn left to get to my house (going south) in the cross-over lane. I can't tell you how many times people fly by me going 60. Speed limits in this region are a joke. Not enough enforcement. I know the cops can't be everywhere, but school buses often are the worst offenders! I know they have a schedule, but jeez. I am NOT saying this was the case with this incident. Condolences to the family of course. But we don't know all of the facts with this one just yet. It could have simply been an accident or something went wrong.
Oh...and now that speed bumps have been in for over a year on Beachview (Speedway Blvd) they are now doing 45 on Marshall and Bergen Ave. Just sayin. So the well-to-do along the bay don't want ANY inconvenience with their Beemers, Hummers, Mercedes, etc... If the bumps slow them down, they just use another street and go just as fast as before...in a 25 mph zone. Don't get me started. BE BIG!

Well, we have a voice, lets use it here. Lets work on the powers that be, to prevent this from happening again.
As a taxi driver in town, I can tell you SPEED is definitely a major problem on this road.
How about those left turns out of the Spirit Liquors across from ShopRite?
How many near misses in the center turn lanes are there a day??
I hope we use our Social Media for the good here and make changes.