Out-of-control van narrowly misses Tamarac school bus

Terrifying close call caught on camera

A Rensselaer County father watched in horror as a speeding van passes a school bus on the right, just as his daughter is about to step off.

Incredible video sent to NewsChannel 13 shows a near-crash involving a school bus.

It happened on Route 7 in Pittstown around 2:40 p.m. Tuesday.

Luckily, no kids were hurt, and the van never hit the bus.

It ended up hitting a truck going in the opposite direction, then left the road and crashed into the snow.

The driver, Angel Fernando Pandiguana Pachar, 22, is charged with reckless endangerment, reckless driving and various other vehicle and traffic violations, the Rensselaer County Sheriff’s Office said.

Pachar was released on an appearance ticket. He’s due in court on Feb. 7.

As this happened, Joe Carista was waiting for his daughter. The bus driver held her back from coming out, he said.

This brings back terrible memories of another close call, also caught on video, in 2019.

Carista’s then 7-year-old daughter came down the steps of her school bus, and starts running to her father. A car whips by, also on the right. The little girl was almost hit. The driver never stopped.

The video from back then shows the bus had its lights on and signs out. The bus driver honked and yelled in warning.