Glenolden man accused of hitting a school bus as it left the scene

A Glenolden man is charged with reckless endangerment after his vehicle struck a school bus loaded with children and then left the scene, Prospect Park police said.

Shortly before 12:30 a.m. Friday, a Southeast Delco School District bus with 12 children on board was struck by a vehicle at 10th and Lincoln Avenue.

None of the children or the bus driver were hurt. The driver of the striking vehicle stopped briefly to pick up pieces of his truck lying on the road and then fled the scene, Police Chief Dave Madonna said.

The bus driver told police that the driver of the dark-colored truck initially stopped a block away from the collision, got out of the truck, took the damaged items from the vehicle and fled.

William Meo, 45, was charged with recklessly endangering another person, failure to stop at an accident to give information, dangerous driving, careless driving, driving without a license and accidents involving property damage.According to the probable cause affidavit filed by Prospect Park Officer Michael Slowik:

Officers arrived and spoke with the bus driver, who said the bus was traveling south on Lincoln when a dark-colored work truck traveling north hit his driver’s side mirror.

Police said the bus’s mirror was severely damaged and was hit with such force that it shattered the driver’s side window.

As part of the investigation, police reviewed local surveillance footage showing a dark Ford truck hitting the school bus.

The video also shows the driver getting out, running towards the scene of the collision, picking up pieces of the truck and then leaving the area. The operator can be seen wearing a hoodie depicting a specific company and that company’s phone number.

Police called the company, which identified the driver as Meo. Police also learned that Meo is currently on parole.

After determining the correct address, police and probation officers went to his apartment on Chester Pike and spoke with him. Police said Meo, unprompted, said he didn’t know he hit something and that he didn’t have a driver’s license.

Meo was arrested. It turned out that his driving license was suspended for driving under the influence.

Meo was arrested at the request of state police for a parole violation. He was arraigned before District Judge Michael F. Culp, who set bail at 10 percent of the $50,000 Meo was unable to post, and taken to the Delaware County Jail.

His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Nov. 4 in U.S. District Judge Mary Hopper’s courtroom.

Madonna expressed her appreciation to Slowik and Officer David Voorhees for their work in the investigation.

“Fortunately, no children or driver were injured,” Madonna said.