Seven Hingham Students Transported to Hospital After Crash on Main Street

Seven first and second grade Foster Elementary School students were transported to the South Shore Hospital Thursday morning  after the school van they were traveling in was hit from behind by a truck.

The crash occurred at 8:07 a.m. at the intersection of Main and Free Street.

Hingham Police Sgt. Steven Dearth said the accident was “very minor” and the students were only taken to the hospital for precautionary reasons.

Police could only reach the parents of one of the eight children aboard the van so the seven others were taken to a the hospital as a precaution, Dearth said.  The eighth student was able to attend school on time.

Police said the 2006 Ford school van came to a complete stop at the intersection of Main and Free Street when the 1998 Ford Pick-up struck it.

The van was on its way to Foster School and was carrying eight children from Dorchester who are enrolled in the METCO program in Hingham schools, Dearth said.

Foster School Principal Debbie Stellar was at the scene to check on the well-being of her students, police said.

In an email to parents on Thursday afternoon, Stellar said "all parents of the children involved have been contacted and the children are doing well."

The driver of the truck, Ronald W. Ellis Jr., 37, of Onset was cited for failing to take care when stopping and for an expired inspection sticker.

Dearth said both vehicles had minor damage and were both able to  be driven away. The police department also confirmed that both drivers and all eight students were wearing seat belts.

The accident caused delays for morning commuters traveling North and South on Route 228.