Tractor-trailer clips school bus

A semi tractor-trailer from California discovered it was too large to maneuver through the bends on U.S. Route 9 West east of Largent late Monday afternoon. The tractor-trailer clipped a school bus mirror around 4 p.m. as it tried to pass it. No students were involved in the accident. There were no injuries.

Morgan County school bus driver John Munson had just dropped off his load of school kids at the Buzzerds and was heading west back to Paw Paw. Munson came around a sharp turn near Kilgore Road between Largent and Fisher's Bridge and found the tractor-trailer in his path. He said it just kept coming.

Munson safely steered the school bus out of the way and ended up with only a damaged left mirror. The cargo trailer driver was Francisco Melgoza of Hana Global, Inc. of San Diego, California, said investigating officer West Virginia State Trooper A.T. Peer.

An assistant truck driver said they were going around five to 10 miles an hour before the impact because they'd found they didn't have enough room on the road to swing to make the bend. Single-lane traffic was directed past the accident scene by deputy reserves.

Morgan County Sheriff's Department Chief Deputy Vince Shambaugh, Sheriff's Deputy T. J. Johnson and Sheriff's Reserve Deputies Lee Fox and R. L. Sirbaugh responded to the scene as did firefighters from Great Cacapon and Paw Paw Volunteer Fire Companies and Paw Paw Rescue Company 32. photo by Kate Evans