West Orange Students Trapped After Snow Stalls Buses (PHOTOS)

WEST ORANGE, NJ — A snowstorm stranded hordes of West Orange students on buses and in classrooms when the roads turned into icy nightmares on Thursday. The students were safe, officials reported, but local parents had plenty to say about the incident on social media.

As predictions of a snowstorm across New Jersey came true on Thursday, another forecast also reared its ugly head: weather-related crashes. In West Orange, a disabled tractor trailer caused delays on I-280 eastbound near exit 7 at Pleasant Valley Way, closing the right lane of traffic around 3:13 p.m. A few minutes later, an accident took place on I-280 westbound near the same exit, closing the left lane, 511NJ.org reported.

• See related article: Crashes Reported Across Essex County As Snow Storm Mounts

While cars crashed and slipped on the nearby highways, West Orange School District officials said the weather and road conditions were expected to cause “significant delays” for bused students in town.

“Due to the current road conditions, buses are proceeding with caution and significant delays are to be expected,” administrators stated. “We appreciate your patience as the students return home today.”

But things got trickier as the day drew to a close, school officials reported.

"The buses are still enroute to our building," officials said at 4:56 p.m. "Students are safe in their classrooms with their teachers."

As the hours dragged on, administrators brought out snacks, activities and entertainment for the trapped students. West Orange's teachers and staff proved to be a bright light on a cloudy day, with many hunkering down along with their students for the long wait.

• See related article: West Orange Teachers Show True Grit When Snowstorm Traps Students

"Buses have been asked to shelter in place," school officials said in a 6 p.m. update. "When the West Orange Police Department provides the all clear, those buses will begin their route. Again, all students remain safe."

West Orange school officials added:

"For those students enroute, buses have been asked to shelter in place to address the road conditions. When the West Orange Police Department provide the all clear, those buses will continue their routes."

It's possible that not all students stayed put, according to one community member who asked not to be named. The person provided Patch with videos that allegedly show some of the stranded youngsters ditching their buses and walking home on Eagle Rock Avenue on Thursday. (Story continues below)

Most of the students stuck on buses on closed roadways were high school students, school officials later said.

Many of those buses, with the help of the West Orange Police Department, were rerouted to the Chit Chat Diner, where the students were fed. They were then taken to West Orange High School, where they spent the night. Those bus numbers were 314, 315, 316, 327, 347, 5, 29, 140, 141, 138, and 139.

"West Orange school buses typically do three runs in the afternoon, starting with the high school," administrators said in a news release. "Since many of those buses were stuck on closed roadways (Eagle Rock Avenue, Prospect Avenue, and Pleasant Valley Way were closed, to name a few) they were unable to pick up middle and elementary students."

"We will continue to keep you posted as we work in collaboration with the West Orange Police Department and West Orange Township," school administrators said. "Our ultimate goal is to ensure the safety of our staff and students."

TRAPPED AT SCHOOL OVERNIGHT

Around 10 p.m., West Orange administrators announced that the students trapped at several schools may possibly be kept there overnight: West Orange High School, Betty Maddalena Preschool, Kelly Elementary, Redwood Elementary, Mt. Pleasant Elementary, Edison Middle School, Roosevelt Middle School and Liberty Middle School.

"Students are safe in their schools with teachers and staff," officials wrote. "They have eaten dinner and are preparing to get some rest."

After spending the night in schools under close supervision, the students were released to parents Friday morning or sent home via buses, officials said.

As they waited for students to get home, parents and guardians vented their frustrations on social media:

• "This most irresponsible idiotic thing I have ever seen. My niece, nephew and the rest of those kids should have been home hours ago."
• "Just got a call from my daughter who has been stuck in the bus for more than 4 hours, needs to use the bathroom and no food, oh and they were eating snow she said. "
• "5.5 hours on a bus with no food, no drinks & no where to pee? This should not be happening."
• "Someone needs to be held responsible for this."

However, some school community members said that cooler heads should prevail.

"I don’t think firing anyone should be part of this forum my son is not home," one parent wrote. "And knowing that he’s in that school and he's safe I’m OK with."

"The school cannot know how fast it was going to come down," another person wrote.

"If you guys want to blame someone, blame the city because they were not prepared for this amount of snow, it's not the school or the bus driver's fault," another community member said. "We underestimated this storm that's why there is chaos in the streets."

Schools will be closed on Friday, Nov. 16, officials announced.

Acting Superintendent Eveny de Mendez said that district administrators are preparing to debrief the details around Thursday's storm in collaboration with township officials and will present the findings at an upcoming Board of Education meeting.

"We thank our students, staff and township personnel for the immense amount of support and dedication given to ensuring the safety and well-being of our students," Mendez said.

The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Nov. 20 in the Library Media Center of West Orange High School. Public session will begin at 8 p.m.

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Photo: West Orange Schools