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September 1, 2010

School bus crashes in Augusta

By Craig Crosby ccrosby@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

AUGUSTA — The driver was taken to the hospital Wednesday after a school bus crashed on South Belfast Avenue.

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A school bus driver was hospitalized Wednesday after his bus crashed into a retaining wall on South Belfast Avenue. The driver told police the cause was a mechanical problem with the bus.

Contributed photo

Leon Giroux, 65, was taken to MaineGeneral Medical Center in Augusta after complaining of wrist pain, said Augusta Police Sgt. Christopher Massey.

Giroux was alone on the First Student bus at the time of the crash.

The accident occurred around 8 a.m., as Giroux was turning the bus off Pierce Drive to head west on South Belfast Avenue. The bus continued to turn left and struck a retaining wall near a home at 204 South Belfast Avenue.

“The operator complained there was some sort of mechanical issue with the bus,” Massey said. “He said there was a problem with the steering and accelerator.”

A mechanic from First Student was expected to inspect the bus.

“There will be a follow up with them,” Massey said.

The bus, a yellow 2001 International, sustained several thousands dollars worth of damage and had to be towed away, Massey said.

The retaining wall also had a couple thousand dollars in damage.

There are no charges in connection with the crash.

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