Grandmother dies after minivan crashes into school bus

WESTBOROUGH, Mass. — One grandparent was killed and another seriously injured after their minivan slammed into a school bus.

The crash happened on West Main Street in Westborough around 5 p.m. Wednesday.

There were no students on the bus at the time of the crash, but those grandparents were in the car with a young girl at the time of the crash.

The grandparents were trapped under the bus for close to an hour and a half while rescuers cut off the roof and helped them get out.

Westborough police say the driver of that minivan, Desiree White, 80, of Plymouth, suffered life-threatening injuries. Early Thursday morning, police said that Desiree had died from her injuries.

In the passenger seat was 79-year-old Ronald White of Plymouth, was hospitalized for non-life threatening internal injuries. The 11-year-old girl in the back seat was treated for minor bumps and bruises.

“I saw the school bus come out of the parking lot. Saw this car run into it.. Big boom. And I stopped,” a witness said.

That witness said she was directly behind the minivan as the bus pulled out of the Westborough Country Club parking lot and the crash happened.

At least 25 firefighters and other crews worked diligently to get the couple out of the minivan.

“They were both in trapped in the vehicle. Had to cut them both out with the use of hydrolic tools,” Westborough Fire Chief Patrick Purcell said. “Firefighters worked for approximately 90 minutes. Really technical extrication to get the bus off of them.”

Witnesses tell FOX25 the teen in the car managed to get out and was walking around at the scene, anxiously waiting for the couple to be rescued.

The cause of the accident is still under investigation, but police say solar glare in the area could have been a factor.

This is a breaking news story, tune in to FOX25 News at 10 & 11 for the latest information as it becomes available.

Cox Media Group