Kittery launches investigation after van crash sends 11 children to hospital

KITTERY (WGME) -- The town of Kittery is now launching an investigation after last week's van crash that sent 11 children to the hospital.

State records show the 21-year-old driver of that van has a history of driving violations, including nine convictions.

As buses come and go Monday at the Kittery Community Center, the director says summer campers are leaning on each other.

Last Friday, a town van crashed in New Hampshire.

Eleven young children and two camp counselors were on their way to a water park for a field trip.

New Hampshire state police say the driver, 21-year-old John Guy, had a medical issue and hit a large tree, head on.

All 13 people were taken the hospital.

“We are sincerely relived no one was seriously harmed and the people involved in the crash are home and recovering,” Town Manager Kendra Amaral said.

Amaral says she understands a lot of people still have a lot of questions, including about Guy's driving record.

According to state records, it includes nine convictions, including two for driving to endanger and two for speeding.

Investigators say he did have valid driver's license at the time of the crash.

Guy didn't respond to a message CBS 13 left him on his cell phone.

In a public post on the Kittery Community Center Facebook page, one parent says: "We feel so lucky to still have our daughter after this incident."

She calls the van driver a "great person," but asks, "Why was he allowed to drive this van?"

Amaral couldn't confirm whether the background checks were actually done before guy was hired.

“What you're asking assumes that the driving check had been necessarily done, and we're still in the process of the investigation to determine whether it was,” Amaral said.

Town officials say they are cooperating fully with the investigation happening by the New Hampshire State Police.

Summer camp field trips will continue during the next two weeks, but will use a bus contractor for all transportation.