School bus driver killed in crash with coal truck on Route 22

WESTMORELAND COUNTY, Pa. — A driver of a school bus died Monday morning when the bus and a coal truck collided on Route 22 in Derry Township, Westmoreland County, police said.

Emergency dispatchers said no children were on the bus at the time of the accident, which occurred in the eastbound lanes of Route 22, near Auction Barn Road.

TRENDING NOW:

• Police, EMS called for dog attack in Washington County
• Gambler says he was denied $100K jackpot because friend pushed button
• 'Sons of Guns' star Will Hayden convicted of rape
• PHOTOS: 100 greatest NHL players

Channel 11's Brittny McGraw reported that the bus was slowing down to pick up a student shortly after 7 a.m. The truck hit the bus from behind, causing the bus to spin around and crash through a barrier. The truck crashed into a model home.

“I heard my bus driver yelling. I ran up my driveway it scared me so bad,” Brianna Dunlap, who was seconds away from boarding the bus, said.

Authorities identified the bus driver as 54-year-old Deborah Bopp, of Blairsville.

“Sometimes we talked. I know she had horses,” Dunlap said. “She was nice. I liked Debbie.”

The 59-year-old truck driver was taken to a Pittsburgh hospital.

Dunlap, a junior at Derry Area High School, told Channel 11 News that she feels lucky to be alive.

“I was almost on that bus. I was walking toward it, and I don't have any … not even a scratch. I'm alive, and I wasn't on that bus. I am so lucky,” she said.

Route 22 was closed in both directions for several hours between Route 982 and the transition loop to Route 217 south.

Cox Media Group