Five students suffered minor injuries after an SUV struck a Belleville-Henderson school bus in Jefferson County, authorities said.
HENDERSON, N.Y. — An SUV driver was killed and several others were injured Thursday when the vehicle crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a school bus carrying 16 students in northern New York, according to State Police.
The crash happened at about 2:56 p.m. Nov. 12 on County Route 75 in the town of Henderson, Jefferson County. State Police said a preliminary investigation found that a northbound SUV was traveling at a high rate of speed before it crossed the double solid centerline and struck the southbound Belleville-Henderson Central School District bus.
Police identified the SUV driver as Alec A. Yepez, 31, of Rodman. Authorities said Yepez was driving a 2004 Cadillac Escalade when the crash occurred. The SUV caught fire after the collision, and Yepez was pronounced dead at the scene. The investigation remained ongoing, and police described their findings about the SUV’s speed and path as preliminary.
The school bus was driven by Kurt Gehrke, 59, of Belleville, according to State Police. Gehrke suffered multiple serious injuries and was initially taken to Samaritan Medical Center before being transferred to Upstate University Hospital. Police said Friday that he was in stable condition.
Sixteen students, ages 15 to 17, were on the bus at the time of the collision. Five suffered minor injuries. Four were taken by ambulance to Samaritan Medical Center, while a fifth was taken by a parent to Carthage Area Hospital. School officials said all five were treated and released, and all 16 students were home by Thursday night.
The other 11 students were taken to the Smithville Fire Department after the crash, where they were checked and later released to their parents or guardians. Belleville-Henderson Central School District Superintendent Timothy I. Filiatrault said the bus had been returning to the district from an afternoon BOCES program when the collision occurred.
A firefighter also suffered serious injuries during the emergency response. State Police said Smithville Fire Department firefighter John Rimiller, 61, of Adams, was injured while crews were suppressing the fire at the scene. The circumstances surrounding his injury remained under investigation. Rimiller was taken to Samaritan Medical Center and was reported in critical condition Friday.
The crash drew a large emergency response that included State Police, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, multiple fire departments, ambulance services and county emergency management personnel. Authorities did not immediately release a final reconstruction of the collision, and the State Police investigation continued Friday.
Filiatrault said counselors and other professionals were available to support students, families and staff affected by the crash. He also asked the community to respect the privacy of the students and others involved and said the district would review the circumstances surrounding the collision as additional information became available.
State Police had not announced a final cause beyond the preliminary findings as of Saturday. Gehrke remained reported in stable condition, Rimiller had been reported in critical condition, and the five injured students had been released from medical care.
Author note: Last updated November 14, 2026.