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Police: Man transporting heroin tosses drugs out window after crashing into school bus

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — Police in Penn Township said a driver accused of causing an accident involving a school bus Wednesday was arrested after tossing drugs out of his window.

Channel 11 News was there as police worked to recover the drugs along Pleasant Valley Road.

Police said the driver, Andrew Slywczuk, either crossed the center line or was driving in the middle of the road when he hit the school bus nearly head-on.

Slywczuk, 28, of North Huntingdon, has been charged with DUI and possession with intent to deliver, officials said.

According to police, Slywczuk picked up the heroin in Allegheny County Wednesday morning and was bringing the drugs to Westmoreland County to be sold when the accident happened.

Penn Township police Chief John Otto said Slywczuk told police he was using Suboxone, which is used to treat heroin addiction. But the bus driver told police that after the accident, the driver of the car got out of his vehicle and threw something over a nearby hillside.

Police said they used their equipment to rappel down the hillside and found a substantial amount of heroin and drug paraphernalia.

"The heroin was packaged such as where it was going to be distributed," Otto said.

Police said one 8-year-old student was on board the First Student bus at the time of the accident but was not hurt.

"This was about as close as you can come to being a head-on accident, so we're counting our blessings there," Otto said.

The roadway was closed while police investigated.