WINDSOR — A bus carrying the Springfield High School varsity girls basketball team crashed Tuesday night after colliding with a spun-out car on an icy Interstate 91, according to state police.
At about 9:40 p.m., the car, driven by Logan Batchelder of Claremont, New Hampshire, went out of control on the “ice-covered” highway, spinning into a guardrail, according to the release from state police. He was taken to Mount Ascutney Hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Springfield School Superintendent Sherri Nichols wrote in an email on Wednesday that there “were no student injuries reported, observed, or evaluated,” and that 11 varsity athletes were onboard the bus.
“When students arrived back at Springfield High School, Athletic Director (Rich) Saypack met the bus and checked with all of the students again for any injuries. The District has offered counseling services to all families and players,” Nichols wrote, thanking the coaches, bus driver and first responders for their work following the crash.
One driver, headed north on I-91 soon after the crash, reported seeing “a firetruck and multiple ambulances and police cars” at the scene. George McNulty was headed from Connecticut to Barre Tuesday night when he saw the emergency vehicles and school bus. Naturally, he was concerned.
“I looked over and I saw a lot of bright lights up ahead of me, and I kind of assumed it was snowplows,” he said in an interview. About 2 miles past the crash, he saw two firetrucks blocking the road, which made him think the crash “was very, very bad.”
He described the roads at the time as “slick,” though with more moisture than snow.
“There was some pooled water in the tire tracks in the passing lane, which made me want to drive a little slower,” he said.
According to police, investigation ruled out any impairment by either driver. Batchelder was issued civil violations for the incident.
