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UPDATE

Millsboro driver dies following school bus crash near Laurel

January 24, 2023

A Millsboro woman died and one student was seriously injured Jan. 23 after police say the woman drove into the path of an oncoming school bus near Laurel. Twelve other students on the bus were treated for injuries.

The crash happened at 3:46 p.m., when a 2013 Honda Civic driven Taylor Maurer, 21, of Millsboro, was traveling southbound on East Trap Pond Road approaching the intersection at Hardscrabble Road. The woman failed to stop at the posted stop sign, said Sr. Cpl. Leonard DeMalto of the Delaware State Police. At the same time, he said, a 2009 Bluebird school bus was traveling eastbound on Hardscrabble Road approaching the same intersection – where the school bus had no stop sign – and struck the passenger side of the Honda, causing the car to overturn and exit the roadway. While trying avoid striking the Honda, DeMalto said, the school bus driver, 34, of Bridgeville, swerved, causing the school bus to exit the roadway and overturn.

The school bus driver was wearing her seatbelt. She was taken to an area hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries and later released. Thirteen students on the bus were from Sussex Montessori Charter School. DeMalto said 12 students were taken to a local hospital for nonlife-threatening injuries and later released. One student was airlifted and admitted to an area hospital for serious injuries.

The Honda driver was not wearing her seatbelt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Identification of the victim is pending notification to her family and relatives.

No other vehicles were involved in this collision. The roadways were closed for about five hours while the scene was investigated and cleared.

The Delaware State Police Troop 7 Collision Reconstruction Unit continues to investigate this incident. Troopers ask anyone who witnessed this collision to contact Master Cpl. K. Argo by calling 302-703-3264. Information may also be provided by sending a private Facebook message to the Delaware State Police or contacting Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-847-3333.

Editor’s note: The story has been updated with the name of the Civic driver, who state police incorrectly stated was a woman in its initial press release. 

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