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NH police searching for truck that crashed into school bus stop sign while students were boarding

PELHAM, N.H. — A close call with a box truck shocked parents walking their kids to the school bus Thursday morning in Pelham, New Hampshire.

“Something as simple as just stopping for the bus. Just 15 seconds that’s all, that’s all it takes,” said Sylvia Jarest whose son Benji had just boarded the school bus.

The white box truck caught on the bus’s surveillance camera didn’t stop at all let alone even slow down on Hayden Road for the stopped bus.

The box truck came so close it took out the bus stop sign.

“So, we’re just getting on the bus like we normally do,” said Benji Jarest who is an 11-year-old student.

Bejni had just boarded the bus when it was clipped by the box truck.

‘I’m getting to the back of the bus ‘cause that’s where I sit. Then the bus shakes and everybody’s like whoa! The stop sign just got hit,” said

His babysitter standing outside couldn’t believe her eyes.

“He just sideswipes the bus and takes out the stop sign. I was kind of surprised and I was like, ‘Did that really just happen?’ And the rest of the parents outside were also kind of stunned,” said Aly Jaynes who is the guardian of Benji.

The truck driver kept on going but Pelham Police tell Boston 25 they were able to find him thanks to this video from the bus.

“When the school bus stop sign extends… it activates the camera. We were able to use that footage to get the plate,” said Sgt Matt Keenliside of the Pelham Police Department.

Speeding cars are nothing new to this neighborhood. Police have increased patrols in the last two weeks due to public concerns but that didn’t stop a drunk driver from flipping over and onto a resident’s front lawn on May 4th.

As for the bus incident, parents like Sylvia Jarest are happy the driver was caught. She hopes it’s a lesson and that other drivers will be more cautious especially when school buses are on the road.

“Absolutely, absolutely! He or she should be held accountable for their lack of paying attention to driving and the safety of our kids and our community,” she said.

Pelham Police say the young male driver is expected to face charges of overtaking and passing a school bus and conduct after an accident.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.

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