The driver of a Penn Yan school bus involved in a crash last fall has filed a notice of claim against Seneca County, alleging injuries stemming from the incident.
David Mulberger of Penn Yan was driving a school bus with three students on board around 7:30 a.m. on October 29, 2025, when it was struck by a vehicle driven by a Seneca County Sheriff’s Office deputy trainee.
The crash happened at the intersection of Route 54 and Pre-Emption Road in the Town of Benton. Investigators with the Yates County Sheriff’s Office said the area was covered in heavy fog at the time of the collision.
Authorities say the trainee, identified as Andrew Mateo of Seneca Falls, was issued a ticket for failure to stop at a stop sign. Mateo was operating an unmarked sheriff’s vehicle, with fellow trainee Colton Rice, 21, of Clyde, as a passenger. Seneca County Sheriff Tim Thompson previously said the two were enroute to a training facility in Steuben County as part of the Basic Course for Police Officers at the Southern Tier Law Enforcement Academy.
The three students on the bus were taken to Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital in Penn Yan for evaluation. One student was treated for minor injuries. Mateo sustained minor injuries but did not seek medical treatment, according to investigators.
Mulberger was not treated at the scene and did not initially report injuries. However, in the notice of claim filed January 12, he alleges he suffered injuries to his left shoulder and cervical spine, along with post-traumatic stress disorder. The filing also cites past and future pain and suffering, economic losses, and medical expenses.
The notice does not specify a monetary amount but states that if compensation is not provided within the legal timeframe, the claimant intends to pursue legal action.
