State police have offered further information on the charges filed against both drivers involved in the collision of a school bus and a car on June 4th at West Pike and Ben Franklin Road, the intersection at the YMCA of Indiana County and Ben Franklin Elementary School. Police say both drivers are now alleged to have run a steady red light prior to entering the intersection.
The crash occurred when 27-year-old Thomas Grasty of Garnet Valley, Delaware County tried to make a left turn in front of the bus as both vehicles entered the intersection. The car was pinned against a utility pole and was mostly underneath the bus after the crash. Grasty was pulled from the vehicle by bystanders and was taken to Indiana Regional Medical Center, from where he was flown to Allegheny General Hospital with serious injuries.
Grasty is now charged with driving under the influence and DUI controlled substance, plus failure to stop at a steady red light and careless driving.
The bus driver, 59-year-old James Grube of Homer City, is charged with failure to stop at a steady red light. The Indiana School District bus had no passengers at the time of the crash, and Grasty had no passengers, either.
