UPDATE: Dump truck driver in NK school bus crash charged with following too closely

State Police have charged the driver of a dump truck that rear-ended a New Kent County school bus with following too closely. The Dec. 11 accident sent the bus driver and the one student on board to a local hospital.

State Police spokesman Sgt. Thomas Molnar said the accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. on westbound Route 33 (Eltham Road), about six-tenths of a mile west of the Route 273 (Farmer’s Drive) intersection in Eltham. A 2006 Volvo dump truck driven by Randy White, 53, of the 6000 block of Greenfield Lane, Gloucester, struck the rear of the 2010 Thomas school bus driven by Stephanie S. Parrish, causing extensive damage to the bus. Both drivers were wearing seat belts, Molnar said.

Parrish said she was slowing to make the last stop on her route to discharge the one remaining student on her bus when the accident occurred.

Molnar said both Parrish and the 14 year-old girl suffered minor injuries. The dump truck driver, who was charged with following too closely by Trooper S. McFall, was not injured.

New Kent Sheriff F.W. “Wakie” Howard Jr. said two county deputies in separate police cruisers had been accompanying the bus through the heavily patrolled Eltham area. One deputy passed the bus moments before the accident occurred, but the other stayed behind and witnessed the crash.