Joppa Woman Critically Injured in Route 7 Crash Involving School Bus; No Students on Bus at Time of Accident

From the Harford County Sheriff’s Office:

[February 7, 2012 – Abingdon, MD] — On Tuesday, February 07, 2012 at approximately 8:47am, Harford County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a serious motor vehicle crash on Philadelphia Road near Mill Road in Abingdon, MD that involved a school bus and a passenger vehicle.

There were no students on the school bus at the time of the accident. The bus driver, Terrese R. Diarisso, of Edgewood MD was transported with minor injuries by Abingdon Fire Company to Upper Chesapeake Medical Center.

The passenger vehicle, a 2002 Ford Focus, was driven by Earl Justus Gude Jr., age 60, of Joppa, MD. His mother, Marguerite D. Gude, age 86, of the same address was a passenger in the vehicle.

Ms. Marguerite Gude had to be extricated from the vehicle by members of the Abingdon Fire Company. She was then flown by Maryland State Police Trooper 1 to the University of Maryland R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center with serious injuries from the accident. As of 7pm on Tuesday, February 07, 2012, she was listed to be in critical but stable condition.

The driver of the Ford Focus, Mr. Earl Gude, refused medical care at the scene. He had no apparent signs of injury or impairment. Preliminary investigation determined that the driver of the Ford Focus, Mr. Gude, was the at fault driver.

As a result of the crash, both vehicles had to be towed away from the scene. Philadelphia Road from Mill Road to Abingdon Road was closed to through traffic for approximately three hours for investigation and cleanup due to the crash.

The investigation is ongoing. The States Attorney’s Office will review the investigation to determine if any charges will be filed in connection with the incident.