The City of Haverhill has been cited after a Public Schools’ bus collided with a police cruiser in an accident at the intersection of Lawrence and Fountain Streets. No students were on board at the time of the crash and no injuries were reported.
According to an Oct. 1 crash report filed by Sgt. Kevin F. Lynch and obtained after a 10-day waiting period through a public records request made by WHAV, the Sept. 30 accident involving Officer Eric MacKinnon took place just before 2:30 p.m. Traveling south on Lawrence Street, MacKinnon said the bus—driven by a licensed Haverhill man—pulled out into his path, forcing the officer to “make an evasive move” in an attempt to avoid an accident. MacKinnon was unable to do so, leading to the collision.
The bus driver told Lynch he did not see MacKinnon’s cruiser.
Haverhill Public Schools’ Superintendent Margaret Marotta said the bus, maintained by Lakeside Motors for oil changes and periodic maintenance checks, was immediately taken out of service following the accident. It was brought for a full service check above and beyond the pre-check it already received that day, Marotta told WHAV. The bus did and does have a current inspection sticker and registration.
Due to one of the bus tires having less than 4/32” tread, the city, as the bus owner, received a citation from police.