Driver, student injured in bus accident

HOWELL — Two people were injured when a school bus collided head-on with a lighting pole in the Howell Commons shopping center parking lot at 7:25 a.m. Sept. 3.

The bus has a regular stop at the Route 9 shopping center to pick up students and transport them to St. Rose High School, Belmar.

Howell police Cpl. William Bommer said the driver of the bus, Jane Kassner, 58, of Whiting, attempted to make a left turn in the parking lot and, while she was checking for traffic, did not properly gauge the turn and crashed into a lighting pole.

Bommer said Kassner and a 16-year-old boy suffered minor injuries, but were not taken to a hospital. Kassner complained of neck and back pain, and the student suffered a nosebleed and was subsequently brought home by his father.

Bommer investigated the accident and said Kassner was issued a summons for careless driving and released.

— Lauren Ciraulo