UPDATE: State Police investigate fatal school bus crash in town of Henderson
On November 12, 2026, at approximately 2:56 p.m., New York State Police responded to County Route 75 in the town of Henderson, Jefferson County, for a fatal motor vehicle crash involving an SUV and a Belleville Henderson Central School District school bus.
A preliminary investigation determined that a 2004 Cadillac Escalade, operated by Alec A. Yepez, age 31, of Rodman, NY, was traveling northbound on County Route 75 at an unsafe speed when it crossed the double solid centerline and collided head-on with a southbound Belleville Henderson school bus.
Following the collision, the Cadillac Escalade became engulfed in flames. Yepez was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The school bus was operated by Kurt E. Gehrke, age 59, of Belleville, NY. Gehrke sustained multiple serious injuries and was initially transported to Samaritan Medical Center before being transferred to Upstate University Hospital, where he remains in stable condition.
At the time of the crash, the school bus was transporting 16 students ranging in age from 15 to 17 years old. Five students sustained minor injuries. Four were transported to Samaritan Medical Center, and one was transported by a parent to Carthage Area Hospital. All five students were treated and released.
The remaining students who were not injured were transported to the Smithville Fire Department, where they awaited pickup by their parents or guardians.
During fire suppression operations at the scene, Smithville Fire Department firefighter John Rimiller, age 61, of Adams, NY, sustained serious injuries under circumstances that remain under investigation. Rimiller was transported to Samaritan Medical Center, where he remains in critical condition.
State Police were assisted at the scene by the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Town of Watertown Ambulance, Smithville Fire Department, Sackets Harbor Fire Department, South Jefferson Ambulance, Black River Fire Department, Jefferson County Office of Fire and Emergency Management, Jefferson County EMS Office, Guilfoyle Ambulance, Adams Center Fire Department, Adams Fire Department, North Pole Fire Department, and Henderson Ambulance.
The investigation remains ongoing.
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