BATAVIA – Motorists driving near Rotolo Middle School on Wednesday morning may encounter slight traffic disruptions because of a bus crash simulation that will take place near the school.

Batavia Public School District 101, the Batavia Fire Department, Batavia Police Department and Illinois Central Bus Company are collaborating in an emergency training exercise that will simulate the collision of a vehicle with a school bus carrying students. 

The crash simulation will take place between 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Papermill Hill Drive and Barkei Drive.

“This training exercise is the first transportation crisis simulation that multiple agencies are collectively producing with Batavia Public Schools,” Batavia School Superintendent Jack Barshinger said in a press release. “We are proactively testing and evaluating emergency response systems to ensure that each agency is fully prepared to respond and execute systems in the event of a real crisis.” 

Along with four adolescent “victims” from Rotolo Middle School’s eight grade first aid class, the training exercise will involve officials from Batavia Public Schools, Tri-Com Central Dispatch, the Southern Fox Valley and Central DuPage Emergency Medical Services System, Batavia Police Department, Batavia Fire Department and Illinois Central Bus Company. 

The school bus crash simulation will test communication, multi-agency coordination, emergency protocols, patient triage and other items.