Trish Bennett, Editor
CIRCLEVILLE – The Westfall Middle School track team faced an unexpected challenge Friday when their school bus was involved in a minor accident at McDonald’s on South Court Street.
No injuries were immediately reported, but students were checked by medics from the Circleville and Pickaway Township fire departments at the scene as a precaution.
According to Officer Jon Farrelly, Circleville Police Department, the bus driven by Clark McFarland II, 66, was headed northbound on South Court Street about 8:30 p.m. and was preparing to turn into the McDonald’s parking lot when the crash occurred.
Farrelly said McFarland activated his right turn signal and had moved into the center median to complete the turn when a 2002 Volvo driven by Jake Emerson, 22, continued past it on the right side. As the bus began the right-hand turn, it struck the front of the Volvo, blocking the doors of both vehicles.
Emerson was cited for assured clear distance ahead and driving under suspension.
The team, which was traveling to McDonald’s for dinner after an SVC track meet at Adena Middle School, was then released to enter the restaurant. Farrelly said the bus suffered only minor damage, and he believed it would be transporting the students back to Westfall after the dinner break.
The driver of a tow truck from Fletcher’s Towing witnessed the accident from directly behind the crash, Farrelly said. Fletcher’s assisted with clean-up at the scene.
This article originally appeared on The Pickaway News Journal
