Staff Report / April 23, 2026
A school bus driver from Penn Yan has filed a legal notice of claim against Seneca County, alleging injuries stemming from a crash involving a sheriff’s office trainee last fall.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. on October 29, 2025, at the intersection of Route 54 and Pre-Emption Road in the Town of Benton. The driver, identified as David Mulberger, was operating a school bus carrying three students when it was struck by a vehicle driven by a trainee with the Seneca County Sheriff’s Office.
Investigators said the collision happened in heavy fog conditions. Authorities determined the trainee failed to stop at a stop sign and was later issued a traffic citation. The trainee was reportedly driving an unmarked sheriff’s vehicle while traveling with another trainee en route to a training program.
Following the crash, the three students on board were transported to Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hospital for evaluation, with one treated for minor injuries. The trainee driver sustained minor injuries but did not seek medical treatment at the scene. Mulberger was not initially treated and did not report injuries immediately after the incident.
However, in a notice of claim filed January 12, Mulberger alleges he later experienced injuries including damage to his left shoulder and cervical spine, as well as post-traumatic stress disorder. The filing also cites ongoing pain and suffering, medical expenses, and economic losses.
The notice does not specify a financial amount but indicates that legal action may be pursued if a settlement is not reached within the required timeframe.
