49 students hospitalized in school bus and tow truck collision in Pennsylvania (photos)

Nearly 50 students were sent to the hospital after a school bus collided with a tow truck in Pennsylvania on Wednesday morning, September 6.

State police Captain Patrick Dougherty said in a press conference that the bus carrying 49 students to Bear Creek Community Charter School for their second day of the term collided with an oncoming truck on Route 115 in Bear Creek Township, Luzerne County, just after 8am.

The tow truck driver, identified as 28-year-old Edward Edward Steinmann, is believed to have suffered a medical event and swerved over the median strip, Mr Dougherty said, according to Fox56.

Mr Steinmann and the bus driver, Suzanne Ent, 53, were taken to hospital with moderate injuries.

The 49 students, aged from kindergarten through to eighth grade, suffered minor injuries in the crash, and were taken to hospital on a separate school bus for evaluation, Pennsylvania State Police said.

The two injured drivers were taken to hospital by ambulance.

Footage from the crash site showed the bus sustained major damage in the front-on smash.

“Although this was an unfortunate event, we are grateful that there were no serious injuries,” Mr Dougherty said.

“We would like to thank the good citizens who stopped to help and render aid.”

Parents of the injured children have been notified, he added.

Jim Smith, CEO of Bear Creek Community Charter School, told The New York Post that four students remained in the hospital as of Wednesday afternoon after sustaining moderate injuries.

“Although this is an unfortunate event, we are grateful that there were no serious injuries,” Doherty said at Wednesday’s press conference. “We wish everyone a speedy recovery.”

School officials “immediately” began contacting families of students involved in the crash and began the reunification process, according to the PSP captain.

An investigation is underway into the crash.