State police at Frackville reported investigating a crash along Route 54 (Barnesville Drive) in Ryan Township that occurred at 7:31 a.m. Wednesday.

Troopers said a school bus from the Mahanoy Area School District was stopped with its red lights activated to pick up students. Several other vehicles were stopped behind the bus. A tractor-trailer, operated by Paul E. Turner, 44, of Germansville, Lehigh County, pulled up behind the stopped vehicles and activated his 4-way flashers.

At this point Leonard E. Kurpell, 79, of Mahanoy City, driving a 2003 Buick Century, approached the stopped traffic and failed to recognize traffic was stopped. He braked but it was too late. He then swerved his vehicle to the right driving partway up an embankment. The Buick then crossed the driveway at 873 Barnesville Drive, before striking a stone retaining wall on the east side of the driveway.

The Buick continued east and came along side the trailer portion of Turner’s rig and struck the right rear tires.

Kurpell was injured and taken by Ryan Township ambulance to St. Luke’s Miners Memorial Hospital, Coaldale. Turner was not injured. The Buick had to be towed. Assisting at the scene were volunteers from the Ryan Township and Hometown fire companies.

Troopers cited Kurpell for careless driving.