RSU 9 bus, vehicle collide in New Sharon

NEW SHARON — A Farmington man lost control of his car on icy and snow-covered Starks Road on Tuesday afternoon and it struck a Regional School Unit 9 bus.

Bus driver Alisha Durrell of New Sharon and the 20 students on the bus were not injured, Franklin County Cpl. Kevin Hartley said in his report to Sheriff Scott Nichols Sr.

Joshua Dunham was operating a 2000 VW Jetta west on Starks Road, also known as Route 134, while Durrell was driving the 2015 Blue Bird bus east. Dunham was transported for back pain to a hospital in a NorthStar EMS ambulance. He said he had previous back injuries, Hartley said.

Leanne Condon, RSU 9 assistant superintendent, said the bus was carrying Mt. Blue high and middle school students to Starks.

The Jetta struck the driver’s side of the bus, damaging the side and dislodging a tire from a rim, he said.

Dunham was traveling too fast for road conditions and lost control, Hartley said.

Some students were released at the scene to parents, he said. School officials were on the scene.

New Sharon firefighters assisted at the scene.

dperry@sunmediagroup.net