Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Man says he fell asleep before hitting school bus
southington
A Warren man says he fell asleep behind the wheel before striking a school bus carrying 20 children. The Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating.
Shawn D. Canzonetta, 37, and one student were injured after the 2000 Ford Windstar driven by Canzonetta struck the rear of a school bus, driven by Catherine E. Heikkila, 66, of Southington, as it stopped 7 a.m. Tuesday to pick up students on U.S. Route 422, just east of Lieby Osborne Road.
Heikkila told police she saw Canzonetta approaching rapidly from the rear and instructed the students to back away from the bus, before being hit. Canzonetta stated he had fallen asleep and awoke just prior to the crash, according to reports. The bus had extensive damage to the left rear and the Windstar had heavy damage to its front end and entire right side.
Canzonetta was taken to St. Joseph Health Center with non-life threatening injuries and one student claimed minor injuries.