PITTSFIELD — A crash involving a school bus carrying Herberg Middle School students backed up traffic on Merrill Road on Wednesday afternoon.

Herberg Principal Michael Taber sent a message to families, letting them know that Bus 125 had been in a crash Wednesday afternoon.

One student was transported to Berkshire Medical Center for treatment, but there was no other word on injuries, Pittsfield Police Officer Ezakeil Stone said.

Herberg Principal Michael Taber sent a message to families, letting them know that Bus 125 had been in a crash. He said the district’s safety coordinator and director of bus operations were on scene “assessing student needs and assisting with the response.”

The front end of a car was heavily damaged in a collision with a school bus at the intersection of Merrill Road and Plastics Avenue on Wednesday.

Taber said a replacement bus was being dispatched to the scene, and that families of students riding Bus 125 should expect later arrival times.

Police at the scene said the bus was proceeding north across the intersection from Laurel Street to Plastics Avenue at about 3:05 p.m. when a Toyota sedan, heading eastbound on Merrill, collided with the bus’ back end.

The car appeared to have sustained heavy front-end damage and was blocking the middle lanes at the intersection. Traffic was reduced to one lane in either direction of Merrill Road.

In a statement to members of the school community, Eric Lamoureaux, emergency and safety coordinator for the district, advised parents that if their child experiences any physical symptoms, they should bring them to the doctor, urgent care or the emergency room and to alert the school.

School adjustment counselors will be available Thursday morning to connect with any student who would like to speak to them, he said.

"We know with incidents like this there is a range of emotions that students may experience," he said. "Student safety is our top priority."

Pittsfield Fire Department personnel and County Ambulance responded to the scene along with Pittsfield Police.