Groton — Two elementary school students were taken to a local clinic for treatment of very minor injuries Wednesday following a collision between a school bus and an Old Mystic firetruck.

Windows on the bus shattered during the crash and the children had to be checked and cleaned up, according to Superintendent Michael Graner.

The crash occurred at 3:34 p.m. on Allyn Street at the Interstate 95 overpass.

Old Mystic Fire Chief Kenneth Richards said Wednesday the 48-foot tower ladder truck was making a left turn onto the ramp to I-95 South when it came to an abrupt stop because of an oncoming vehicle. The southbound bus, traveling behind the truck, tried to pass the truck on the right when it struck the truck's bucket, which is about level with the school bus windows.

Richards provided more detail on the accident on Thursday after speaking with the driver of the fire truck, who he said is an experienced driver. The driver of the truck was not injured.

After stopping for the oncoming vehicle while making the turn onto the highway, the driver of the fire truck realized he was too far past the highway's on ramp to make a safe turn. Richards said the driver placed the truck in reverse to reposition the truck when it was struck by the bus.

The truck was not headed to an emergency at the time of the crash, rather it was going to refuel, Richards said.

Police said Thursday that no citations were issued and the accident remains under investigation.

The bus was carrying 27 kindergarten through fifth-grade students from Northeast Academy Elementary School.

The two students, a third-grade boy and a fifth-grade girl, were accompanied by school Principal Paul J. Esposito when they were taken by ambulance to the Pequot Health Center in Groton. Both were treated and released.

The remaining students were taken by another bus back to the school. Their parents were then notified and later picked them up at the school, Graner said.

“The children were remarkably calm, actually,” Graner said. “I think that’s because they were transported back to the school, (and) the school staff immediately attended to them in small groups. Basically, they chatted with the staff and waited for their parents to come.”

Graner praised the school staff and Principal Esposito for helping the children.

“It was handled as well as it could possibly be,” Graner said. 

g.smith@theday.com

Twitter: @SmittyDay

d.straszheim@theday.com

Twitter: @DStraszheim