Penacook woman dies in crash with school bus on Concord's North State Street
Concord police work the scene of a motor vehicle accident on North State Street in Concord; Friday, October 26, 2012. One motorist died after an accident involving a school bus. no students were on the bus at the time of the accident.
(Sarah Palermo / Monitor staff) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »Concord police work the scene of a motor vehicle accident on North State Street in Concord; Friday, October 26, 2012. One motorist died after an accident involving a school bus. no students were on the bus at the time of the accident.
(Sarah Palermo / Monitor staff) Purchase photo reprints at PhotoExtra »
A 70-year-old woman has been identified as the sole victim of a motor vehicle crash on North State Street this morning.
Raeleen J. Szymbor of Concord died when the SUV she was driving collided head-on with a school bus on North State Street at the intersection with Peabody Street.
The bus was headed north to Beaver Meadow to pick up students at about 11:30 a.m., and was empty at the time of the crash. The driver was not injured.
A man who answered the phone at Szymbor’s house identified himself as her son-in-law and said the family has no comment.
“It’s a very small family. I can’t make any comments at this time other than to say she was my beloved mother-in-law,” he said. At the scene this morning, Deputy Concord Fire Chief Sean Toomey would not say if Szymbor appeared to have died as a result of the crash, or before.
The front end of the dark blue SUV Szymbor was driving was crushed, and parts of the vehicle body, the engine and battery littered the road.
Jennifer Boudel was in her home on the corner of North State and Peabody streets, and saw the crash.
“It looked like maybe she was just swerving to avoid something, and he moved over to let her, but she just kept coming at him,” Boudel said. “He tried slamming on the brakes, but I don’t think the brakes stop that fast.”
The bus was pushed up on the curb of the northbound lane, and the SUV bounced back across both lanes and stopped on the shoulder of the southbound lane.
As she called 911, other drivers stopped and checked on both drivers. The SUV door wouldn’t open, Boudel said. Another witness, a young man driving behind the SUV who declined to give his name, also said the SUV crossed the center line before the crash, and saw the bus driver try to pull over out of the way.
The state police are investigating the accident.
You must be registered to comment on stories. Click here to register.