Press release
On October 9, 2025, at approximately 3:54 PM, the Wyoming County 911 Center received a
report of a motor vehicle accident involving a passenger vehicle and a school bus at the
intersection of State Route 98 and Chaffee Road in the Town of Java.
First responders arrived on scene and determined that a First Student school bus, from Arcade
Elementary School was transporting 19 children home from school at the time of the collision.
Three children reported injuries, with two being transported to Oishei Children’s Hospital in
Buffalo for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the 2008 Jeep Commander, identified as Kevin Gremmel, age 56, of Arcade, NY,
sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to Wyoming County Community
Hospital for evaluation.
The initial investigation revealed that the school bus, operated by Donald Howe, age 66, of
Delevan, NY, was traveling north on State Route 98 and waiting to make a left turn onto Chaffee
Road. The bus allegedly turned in front of the southbound vehicle, resulting in the collision.
Howe was issued a citation for Failing to Yield the Right of Way While Making a Left Turn.
The investigation into this incident remains ongoing.
Assisting at the scene were the New York State Police, Wyoming County Emergency Services,
North Java Fire Department, Strykersville Fire Department, Varysburg Fire Department, Bliss
Fire Department, Arcade Fire Department, Chaffee-Sardinia Fire Department, 1490 Motors, and
DMR Towing.