KENNEBUNK — All are safe after a motor vehicle collided with a Regional School Unit 21 bus transporting students in Kennebunk on Thursday.

Chief Robert MacKenzie said in a release that the Kennebunk Police and Fire Departments responded to the crash, which occurred around 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the intersection of Alewife and Walker Roads.

According to MacKenzie, Neico Proctor, 26, of Dayton was traveling south on Alewife Road (Route 35) when he lost control of his vehicle and struck the bus head-on as the bus sat waiting to turn onto Alewife Road.

There were four Kennebunk Elementary School students on the bus, RSU 21 Superintendent Katie Hawes said Thursday. There were no injuries to the students or the bus driver, Renda Turner, 49, of Alfred.

Proctor suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash and was treated by emergency responders at the scene. His car sustained front-end damage, Lt. Eric  O’Brien said Thursday, and was towed from the scene.

The bus sustained only minor damages.

Hawes said the students’ families were immediately notified that their children were safe, and that another bus was sent to finish the bus route and transport the students to school. The students arrived about 15 minutes late, Hawes said.

“When the students arrived here, our guidance counselor met with them just to check in with them and make sure they weren’t upset,” Hawes said. “They were always physically fine. Just, in light of the emergency responders and everything, we wanted to check in with them emotionally.”

“They’re all back in class and enjoying the last day before break,” Hawes said.

RSU 21 serves the communities of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Arundel. Kennebunk Elementary School serves students from kindergarten through third grade.

MacKenzie said road conditions and speed were both factors in the crash. A mild winter storm with accumulating snow made for slick roads early Thursday morning. as a result speed limits were reduced to 45 mph on the Maine Turnpike.

O’Brien said Proctor wasn’t necessarily speeding, but that his vehicle was traveling too fast for the snowy weather conditions. He said people must always exercise caution when it snows or when the weather changes.

“Reducing speed is just the best way to drive in the winter. I don’t know how else to say it, except slow down in inclement weather,” O’Brien said. “Just because the speed limit is, say 35 mph, just because you’re going the speed limit it could be too fast for the road conditions.

“I don’t know how you can say it any simpler: reduce your speed when road conditions dictate,” he said.

— Staff Writer Alan Bennett can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 329 or abennett@journaltribune.com.