Wrecks stop Route 7 traffic

GREEN ISLAND — A two-car accident involving a school bus full of football players halted rush-hour traffic leaving Troy on Route 7 westbound Friday evening, officials and a witness said.

Tom Nastars, who drove by the accident just before the exit for Interstate 787, said it appeared that an East Greenbush Central School District bus had been involved in an accident with a car that "looked like it was completely smashed and had spun around" before coming to rest in the middle of the westbound lanes.

The bus was full of Columbia High Schoolfootball players and coaches heading to a game against Shenendehowa, and Nastars said no one appeared to be injured in the accident. A Colonie Emergency Services dispatcher said one minor injury had been reported shortly after the accident.

The bus reportedly arrived at the field shortly before 6:30 p.m., pushing back the start time by one hour.

The Department of Transportation shut down Route 7 westbound shortly after the accident. The road was reopened at 6:40 p.m., with continued delays, according to the DOT.

Nastars said when he passed the accident just before 6 p.m., traffic had come to a standstill.

Meanwhile, Nastars said a fender-bender on the eastbound side of Route 7 across from the westbound accident had slowed traffic to a crawl. The DOT announced at 5:45 p.m. that the eastbound lanes were closed and motorists should expect long delays.

The exhaust pipe of the bus went right through the car!" said one witness.

Word is everyone is fine.  The team made it to the game, just a little late!