Matthew Rutkowski hugging his son, Jeremiah Rutkowski, after he avoided a truck slamming into the back of a school bus.
Updated Information
5/8; 12 p.m.—New York State Police said the crash happened Thursday and involved 35-year-old Joshua Smith of Eaton, who was distracted by his cellphone.
Troopers issued Smith several traffic tickets.
“The investigating trooper determined Smith was following too closely and was distracted while operating the vehicle,” according to State Police.
The pickup truck driver went to Wynn Hospital with minor injuries.
Two children in the truck were taken for evaluation.
The bus driver and two children on the bus also had minor injuries.
A pickup truck crashed into a school bus on Rt. 20 in Madison.
ORIGINAL STORY BELOW:
BOUCKVILLE, N.Y. — Jeremiah Rutkowski was walking out of his house to get picked up for school. Suddenly, a truck slammed into the back of his school bus right in front of him.
The crash happened around 7:15 a.m. on Thursday morning in front of his house.
State Police said 23 students were on board along with the driver. An adult and two children were inside the pickup truck.
All were brought to the hospital for minor injuries, according to State Police.
Video from in front of Jeremiah’s house showed the bus stopped on Rt. 20 with Rutkowski walking towards it.
When the truck collided, he jumped back as he avoided flying debris from the crash.
“I just figured like if that thing’s not going to stop, it’s either going to hit the bus and something’s coming flying at me or the entire truck is coming flying at me,” said Jeremiah, a junior in high school.
As the truck pushed the bus further down the road, Jeremiah ran back onto the porch.
His father, Matt Rutkowski, said he heard the sound of crunching metal and stepped outside to see what happened.
Before rushing to see what he could do to help, Matt embraced his son.
“First priority was to make sure my son was safe and good,” Matt said. “Opening that door wasn’t sure what would happen, so big sigh of relief. That’s why I instantly gave him a hug.”
He said it was “disturbing” walking up to the crash because he wasn’t sure what he would find. He was relieved when the driver was alert and talking and when the students got off the bus.
A pickup truck slammed into the back of a school bus on Route 20 in Madison.
Brandy Rutkowski
Matt called 911 and, with the help of Good Samaritans passing by, handled the situation until authorities arrived.
While his dad rushed over to the accident, Jeremiah said he didn’t know what to do at first.
“I’ve never really done anything like this before. So like when Dad was calling the first responders and everything, I saw the kids getting off the bus; I was sort of just paralyzed with just shock,” he said.
Then one of the kids from the truck stepped out.
“Once one of the kids was out of the truck and needed comforting and was sent to the porch, like, my brain just sort of kicked into that child-caring mode,” he said. “I was with him the whole time, and I was making sure he was comfortable and safe, that he didn’t feel super duper overwhelmed with this really scary situation.”
Jeremiah is a camp counselor at Camp Lookout.
Jeremiah comforting a kid involved in the bus crash.
“My counselor brain just sort of kicked in, and I automatically just…like, I was fully focused on how everybody felt about the situation,” he said.
Jeremiah said it was “scary” seeing how much damage could be done between a bus and a car.
Both Jeremiah and his dad said they were thankful that there were no serious injuries for all involved.
“My first thought was for him; then just went through everyone else,” Matt said. “Just really makes you appreciate the moment, makes you appreciate what you have and how at any moment things can change.”
Jeremiah Rutkowski was walking out of his house to get picked up for school. Suddenly, a truck slammed into the back of his school bus.