SUNDERLAND — Police are investigating the cause of a rear-end crash involving a minivan and a PVTA bus that sent one woman to the hospital Tuesday afternoon.
The accident happened in front of Pioneer Valley Apartments on Old Amherst Road around 4 p.m. when police say a Toyota minivan rear-ended the bus, which had stopped to let passengers off. The driver of the minivan was transported to the hospital by South County EMS with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Sunderland Police Chief Erik Demetropoulos.
“She was conscious and alert,” he said.
All passengers had gotten off the bus prior to the crash, and Demetropoulos said the operator was not injured. The minivan, which was towed from the scene, sustained heavy front-end damage and both front airbags deployed. Demetropoulos said the damage to the bus was mostly superficial, but a second PVTA bus arrived to finish the route.
The cause of the crash is under investigation by officer Brenda Tozloski, who will determine whether any charges will be brought against the driver of the minivan.
The Sunderland Fire Department also responded.