As students prepared to head home for Thanksgiving, a Colgate University shuttle was involved in an accident en route to Syracuse Hancock International Airport during the early morning hours of Nov. 22.
According to Associate Vice President of Emergency Management, Campus Safety and Environmental Health and Safety Joe Hernon, another vehicle crossed lanes in slippery conditions and hit the driver side of the shuttle. As the shuttle absorbed the impact of the crash, it drove off the road. No one was injured.
Hernon applauded the strengths of the driver’s approach.
“It actually worked out because bad road conditions — it gets them off the road,” Hernon said. “And with other continuing traffic in the area, it was actually a really good move on [the driver’s] part.”
The shuttle driver contacted Campus Safety immediately after the crash, and the Manlius Police Department responded to the accident.
Sophomore Micah Spicer was on the shuttle involved in the accident and spoke about her experience.
“The crash itself was scary, but I think the most frustrating part was the uncertainty afterwards,” Spicer said. “I didn’t know if I was going to miss my flight and if I’d be home in time. I did end up missing my flight, but luckily the airline got me another one booked, so I eventually made it home, but a lot later than expected. I’m honestly just glad no one got seriously hurt. I still have some minor back pains but nothing too serious.”
After the crash, the shuttle driver radioed the next shuttle on the way to the airport, about ten minutes away, which was able to retrieve the passengers from the damaged shuttle. Junior Nhu Dang was on the second shuttle and shared her perspective.
“I thought it was a very unfortunate accident and am so glad everyone is okay. The shuttle driver responded very appropriately and for that I am grateful,” Dang said.
Students on the shuttle involved received an email from Campus Safety later in the day, as Hernon noted.
“Any accident can be impactful to anyone’s experience, so we wanted to check in and see if there is anything we can do for anyone who may have taken that accident differently,” Hernon said.
Hernon highlighted how the combined efforts of the drivers created an effective solution.
“The fact that [the drivers] worked together as a team, were able to handle a stressful situation well, I’m very proud of the work that those two folks did,” Hernon said. “They got everyone where they needed to be, worked through a tough situation and also kept everyone safe — and, to the best of their ability, on time.”
