Cheshire Man Charged in Chain Reaction Crash Involving School Bus

A Cheshire man is facing charges after the pickup truck he was driving, and the trailer full of landscaping equipment it was towing struck a vehicle that then struck a school bus.

On Wednesday afternoon officers responded to a motor vehicle crash at the intersection of Derby Ave ( Route 34) and Grassy Hill Rd ( Route 121) involving several vehicles including a school bus, which sent seven people to the hospital including five children, police said in a release.

A preliminary investigation revealed that Kilday, 31, of 650 West Main Street, Cheshire was traveling eastbound on Derby Avenue when he was unable to stop for traffic ahead, police said.

The pick-up he was driving was towing a trailer loaded with landscape equipment, swerved and struck a second vehicle, which then struck a school bus with day campers from New Haven, police said.

Kilday's vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole.  Kilday, and the operator of the second vehicle sustained minor injuries and were transported to Yale New Haven Hospital.

The occupants of the bus were evaluated on scene by EMS and hospital staff who had been called to the scene.

Five complained of neck and back pain and were transported to Yale-New Haven Hospital for further evaluation.

Kilday was charged with operating under suspension and following too close and was given a court date of July 28 in Derby Superior Court.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash is asked to contact Ofc. Sean Murphy at 203-891-2130.