The town is working with a lawmaker in Albany to improve safety at the intersection of State Route 52 and Orange County Route 17, the site of an accident this week that injured nine elementary school children and an adult on a school bus headed to Pine Bush.

Supervisor Charles Carnes said he spoke to Assemblyman Brian Maher about installing flashing lights and rumble strips on Route 17 to alert drivers approaching the intersection with Route 52. It’s a short-term solution, Carnes said. Long term, he wants the state to acquire more roadside property along Route 52 in order to improve sight lines at the intersection.

Just before 9 a.m. Monday, a Dodge truck driven by Daniel Mellon, 37, of Pine Bush, was heading east on Route 52 when it collided with a First Student bus operated by Shawn M. Nedd-Welcome, 54, of Montgomery, according to Crawford police. Nedd-Welcome was making a left-hand turn onto Route 52 from County Route 17 when the collision occurred, police said.

Nine students and an adult were treated for minor injuries at Garnett Medical Center in Wallkill. The children, who were between the ages of 5 and 10, suffered from pain and bruising. They were released from the hospital after treatment, according to town of Crawford police.

Forty-three children were aboard the bus. All the students who were not hospitalized continued to E. J. Russell Elementary School in Pine Bush to be checked by the nurses and released to their parents or guardians, according to the Pine Bush School District.

Motorists heading east at a good clip on Route 52 descend a hill as they approach Route 17. Meanwhile, drivers heading north on Route 17 inch out to get a better view of traffic, Carnes said.

Last Christmas night, a two-car accident at the same intersection sent nine people including four children to hospitals. In that case, a Kia SUV with eight people on board heading north on Route 17 hit a car heading west on Route 52 occupied by just the driver.

Crawford police Chief Dominick Blasko said those two accidents happened for different reasons. As have others. Overall, in his 32 years on the Crawford department, Blasko said he has been to several serious accidents at the intersection although the exact number escapes him.

He said he is anxiously awaiting a state Department of Transportation report on the intersection.

Monday’s accident is still under investigation. At this point no tickets have been issued, he said. Police are asking anyone who might have witnessed the accident to please contact them.

The school district thanked all the responders for their quick action and compassionate care of the children.

Crawford police said they were assisted at the scene by the school district, state police, Orange County Sheriff’s Office and the Town of Montgomery police. Orange County Emergency Management, the Pine Bush and Walden fire departments, Pine Bush, Montgomery and Shawangunk Valley ambulance corps also assisted.