Posted on 02/27/2024 3:17:54 PM PST by lowbridge
A van nearly struck a school bus just before 2:40 p.m. on Route 7 in Pittstown on Tuesday, according to surveillance video provided by Upstate Auto Sales. The van then hit another vehicle before veering off the road and crashing into trees.
The driver of the vehicle, 22-year-old Angel Fernando Pandiguana Pachar, was arrested and charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving and various other vehicle and traffic violations, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office.
According to the Rensselaer County Sheriff, the driver and a passenger were in the country illegally.
"We recognize the heroic action of the bus driver, who kept the girl from walking into the path of the speeding van," Rensselaer County Executive Steve McLaughlin said. "The bus driver's actions were recognized by the girl's father as saving his daughter's life.
"Thank you to the bus driver for being aware and able to act quickly to save a life.
-snip
On Tuesday, his daughter was about to step off the bus once again, but she was pulled back on right before the van flew by, according to the Rensselaer County Sheriff's Office.
Carista said he checked in with the bus driver after the near miss.
"I spoke with the bus driver and he said he saw on the rear camera," Carista explained. "She started to exit the bus and he opened the door, and he grabs her and pulls her back towards the stairs."
"I know the bus driver was really shaken up and so were the kids on the bus. The bus was full. There was probably about 18-19 kids on that bus," he added.
Carista told us that cars pass stopped buses in front of his property all the time.
(Excerpt) Read more at cbs6albany.com ...
With a name like that, he’s probably a Mayflower descendant...but just possibly an illegal alien.
That’s considered reckless driving around here, a crime. And it’s enforced — busses have cameras.
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