New details today from Webster police.
They've identified the man killed in yesterday's deadly crash between
a car and a Wayne Central School bus.
That person, 73 year old William Firestein of Webster Police
say he and his dog were killed after failing to
stop at the intersection of State Route 250 in Lake
Rd. Natalie Cutchco joining us now in studio after hearing
from the school district and Webster Town officials.
Natalie
Webster's Town Supervisor Adams says that stretch of 250 and
Lake Rd.
Has been on their radar,
adding the town is working with the state Department of
Transportation on potential changes there in the future.
Meantime, the Superintendent of Wayne Central Schools offers condolences to
the victim's family as the district works with the students
and staff involved to process what unfolded.
It was quick thinking that Superintendent of Wayne Central Schools
Joe Syracuse credits to the bus driver to staff members
and more than 20 students on the bus that collided
with the sedan Wednesday afternoon during a field trip.
Those on board, he says,
were able to evacuate in minutes before the bus went
up in flames.
Nobody grabbed book bags or phones or things like that.
They just all worked to get off the bus.
We had a couple of kids at the back of
the bus immediately open the back door.
They helped kids out. They helped adults out.
You know, adults moved kids away from the bus
to safety. The bus was starting to take on some
smoke as they were leaving.
And so I think the quick thinking of the students,
the bus driver and of the chaperones contributed to as
good outcome as we had.
The portion of State Route 250 and Lake Rd.
isn't unfamiliar to town officials in Webster.
Town Supervisor Tom Flaherty says he's been in contact with
the state dot to potentially lower the speed limit at
the northern end of 250 because they are county and
state roads. The timeline, he says,
is out of the town's control and largely depends on
the state.
The reality is, as we meet with them periodically,
this is one of the items that has been on
our list.
I'm looking for some guidance out of them that what
is the best way
to fast track that, is that
500 letters from citizens that live off of there
give me the blueprint and then give me the chance
as the town supervisor to go and and and facilitate
and execute and and advocate on the behalf of the
town citizens. Meantime, Wayne Central requires annual bus safety training
for its students,
something the Superintendent says played a significant role in the
outcome.
You never think it's going to happen,
but the kids knew what to do because they've been
practicing every year for something you hope never happens.
And a spokesperson for the
dot responded to us today saying safety is of top
priority.
Also saying in part of a statement quote we would
review any requests from a local official regarding potential safety
enhancements.
Now because of the ongoing investigation,
they could not comment further at this time.
Reporting in studio Natalie Kochko,
News 8.