Bus carrying special needs adults hit

EDEN, N.Y. (WIVB) - A bus carrying people with special needs crashed in the Southtowns on Wednesday and strong winds prevent Mercy Flight from responding.

Police described the accident as a head-on crash that could have had been much worse than it turned out. A late model Chevrolet heading south on Route 62 in the Town of Eden hit a northbound Carrier Coach bus with 11 special needs young adults on board.

Eden Police Lt. John McCarthy said, "The car appeared to cross over. I don't know if he was passing yet, I don't know if he fell asleep. I can tell you alcohol does not play a role."

But when the car and bus collided, the Chevy, driven by 21-year-old Kevin Sprawka of Gowanda, struck the bus at more of an angle than a full bumper-to-bumper slam. Witnesses credited the quick reflexes of the bus driver.

"The driver did a superb job.  He really limited the injuries that would have occurred. He actually put the bus into a very deep ditch. He couldn't go any further to the right, once he hit the earth embankment. The driver did a real good job," said Lt. McCarthy.

Of the 11 special needs passengers, most of them from group homes on their way to a vocational program at ECC South in Orchard Park, three were taken to ECMC. The other eight were either transported to Orchard Park, or taken home.

Authorities say this stretch of Route 62 does not seem to keep them busy as far as enforcement, but the speed limit seems to raise the stakes when there are accidents.

Lt. McCarthy said, "In that straightaway, because of the speed, it is a 55-mile-per-hour zone, they are usually horrific crashes when they do occur with another vehicle."

Spawka is listed in fair condition at ECMC. We have also placed a number of calls to Carrier Coach in Gowanda to congratulate the bus driver, but so far our calls have not been returned.