CCFD: Fog considered a contributing factor in school bus crash
Morning fog is considered a contributing factor in an early morning traffic crash involving a charter school bus Wednesday, Cape Coral Fire Department officials said.
The t-bone collision at the intersection of Northwest 15th Terrace and Chiquita Boulevard at around 7:30 a.m. resulted in injuries to the driver of the sports car involved and one minor injury to a student on the loaded bus, officials said.
Both the driver and student were transported to a local hospital for evaluation and treatment.
Cape Coral firefighters under the Command of Battalion Chief John Hauff responded to the two-vehicle crash.
“Cape Coral Police are investigating the crash, but visual clues at the scene and witness statements to firefighters indicate that the sports car involved did not have headlights on at the time of the collision,” a prepared statement issued by the CCFD states.
The car impacted the bus at the driver’s side rear wheel, which official say was fortunate in this instance.
“Had the point of impact occurred a second or two sooner or later, the vehicle could have easily ended up under the bus, resulting in more serious injuries and the driver being trapped inside the wreckage,” said Cape Coral Fire Department spokesman Michael Heeder in the statement.
Cape Coral Police and firefighters remind drivers that in many newer vehicles, the headlights come on automatically when it is dark but do not activate in foggy conditions in daylight hours.
Remember to always check and manually turn on your headlights in fog conditions,” officials said. “Always use you low beams. High beams will only be reflected back off the fog and actually impair visibility even more. Your lights help other drivers see your vehicle, so be sure they all work. Keep your windshield and headlights clean, to reduce the glare and increase visibility.”
Other safety tips offered include:
SLOW DOWN – and watch your speedometer – before you enter a patch of fog. Be sure that you can stop within the distance that you can see. Fog creates a visual illusion of slow motion when you may actually be speeding. Speed is a major factor in fog-related crashes.
WATCH OUT for slow-moving and parked vehicles.
REDUCE THE DISTRACTIONS in your vehicle. Turn off the radio and cell phone. Your full attention is required.
USE WIPERS AND DEFROSTERS liberally for maximum visibility. Sometimes it is difficult to determine if poor visibility is due to fog or moisture on the windshield.
USE THE RIGHT EDGE of the road or painted road markings as a guide.
BE PATIENT. Avoid passing and/or changing lanes.
SIGNAL TURNS well in advance and brake early as you approach a stop.
Source: Cape Coral Fire Department