State Police investigate fatal school bus crash in the town of Henderson

On November 12, 2026, at approximately 2:56 p.m., New York State Police responded to County Route 75 in the town of Henderson, Jefferson County, for a motor vehicle crash involving an SUV and a Belleville-Henderson Central School District school bus.

A preliminary investigation revealed that an SUV was traveling northbound on County Route 75 at a high rate of speed when it collided with a school bus traveling southbound.

The operator of the SUV sustained fatal injuries.

The male operator of the school bus was transported to Samaritan Medical Center with serious injuries.

At the time of the crash, 16 students were aboard the school bus. Four students were transported to Samaritan Medical Center with minor injuries, and one student was transported by a parent to Carthage Area Hospital with minor injuries.

The remaining 11 students were transported to the Smithville Fire Station for parent or guardian pickup.

The investigation remains ongoing.