According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert M.

According to Oneida County Sheriff Robert M. Maciol, on December 21st, 2023, at about 6:32 A.M., Patrol Deputies were dispatched to Shank Avenue, in the Outer District of the City of Rome for a report of a single vehicle property damage accident involving a First Student school bus, contracted through the City of Rome School District.

At the completion of the investigation Deputies determined the operator of the school bus, Scott Libby (61 years of age of Rome), was traveling in a Westerly direction on Shank Avenue approaching the intersection of Elmer Hill Road. As Libby was proceeding to approach the intersection he attempted to move past a vehicle that was parked on the Southern side of the roadway. As Libby avoided the vehicle the passenger side of the school bus left the roadway on the Northern shoulder where the passenger side of the school bus side swiped a telephone pole and a mailbox. The vehicle came to rest approximately 9 feet after the first point of impact. During the collision, 13 juveniles were passengers on the school bus and no injuries were reported on scene.

Once Deputies gained accountability of all juveniles on the school bus and deemed there were no injuries at the immediate moment, the 13 juveniles were moved from the school bus involved in the accident to another school bus to be transported to their intended destination of Lyndon H. Strough Middle School. Once the 13 juveniles arrived at Strough Middle School they were evaluated by the school nurse for injuries to which none were reported.

Libby was cited for the violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law 1128 subsection A for Moving From Lane Unsafely, which is returnable to Rome City Court at a later date.

Strough Middle School administration made positive notifications to all 13 juvenile parent or guardians notifying them of the incident that had occurred.