Alcohol, speed possible factors in RTA crash; children suffer life-threatening injuries

HARRISON TWP. — Alcohol and speed are believed to be factors in a Tuesday evening crash involving a RTA bus and four other vehicles that left several injured, including two children with life-threatening injuries, according to the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office.

The crash happened around 6 p.m. on Tuesday in the area of North Main Street at Julia Avenue in Harrison Twp.

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According to press release, a preliminary investigation revealed that a Cadillac Deville was southbound on North Main Street when it went left of center in the area of Julia Avenue, striking another vehicle. The Cadillac then struck the RTA bus that was northbound, causing it to veer off the right side of the roadway. The bus then reentered the roadway and collided with a minivan that was also going northbound.

Both the RTA bus and minivan traveled across northbound and southbound lanes, then down an embankment into the lot of an Auto Zone parking lot on North Main Street. The RTA bus then collided with another vehicle parked in the lot before coming to a stop just outside the front doors of the store.

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6 medics called to Harrison Township crash 6 medics called to Harrison Township crash

Multiple injuries were reported as a result of the crash, leaving two children, who were transported to Children’s Medical Center, with life threatening injuries.

Ha’Neisha Wortham said she was among several people who helped injured passengers out of the Cadillac that sustained extensive damage in the wreck.

Then she went inside a nearby KFC where bystanders took the two boys involved in the crash while they waited for medics.

“They barely could breathe, maybe a deep breath every couple seconds, so I was just coaxing the kids, telling them everything was going to be OK,” Wortham said.

Emotions were high, with employees at the KFC even in tears, she said.

“All I could do was cry, honestly, because my heart hurts for those kids.”

The driver of the Cadillac was transported to Grandview Medical Center and the front passenger was transported to Miami Valley Hospital, both with serious injuries. The injured children were also in the Cadillac.

The RTA bus driver, the driver one of the vehicles, and a passenger were taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries.

The crash remains under investigation by the Montgomery Count Sheriff’s Office Traffic Services Unit.

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FIRST REPORT

A car and an RTA bus collided on North Main St. near Julia Ave. in Harrison Twp. Tuesday afternoon, injuring as many as 10 people, including children.

Montgomery County Sheriff’s deputies on scene said six medics were called to the scene to help care for the injured patients.

A witness told our reporter that a Cadillac pulled in front of the RTA bus. The bus driver tried to swerve out of the way, but then the woman said she heard a big boom.

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The woman said witnesses took two injured children inside the KFC close the crash scene while they waited for an ambulance to arrive.

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The cause of the crash is not known at this time, nor is is clear if weather condition may have been a factor.

We have a crew at the scene and will update this story as information becomes available.