Driver hurt in Escort crash

A Penn Escort Service van struck a telephone pole at 39th and Spruce streets at approximately 3 a.m. Friday morning, marking the first Escort accident since October 7. The van contained no passengers at the time, according to Transportation Services Manager Ron Ward. According to Ward, whose office oversees Penn Escort, the driver was heading down Spruce Street in the rain when he hit the trolley tracks and the rear of his van spun out. The driver was John Klassen, a temporary College of Arts and Sciences staff member. "Klassen must have overcompensated," Ward said. "He lost control of the vehicle, and it slid sideways into the pole." Klassen, who has been driving Penn Escort for two years, suffered a broken arm and was taken to the emergency room at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He was discharged after having his arm set in a cast, Ward said. Klassen could not be reached for comment. Ward said he is currently awaiting an estimate of damage to the van. According to Ward, Escort experiences "several fender-benders throughout the year." He added that Sean McHose, the driver involved in the October 7 incident, is no longer with the service. Prior to last fall's accident, the most recently-recorded major accidents involving Penn Escort occurred in November 1993. That month, there were two van-car collisions and one incident where a student pedestrian was struck by a van. Many of the minor accidents have been caused by inclement weather. Before a driver is certified by Escort, he must demonstrate his driving ability by taking a supervisor with him on his first route, Ward said. "If he meets our minimum criteria, he is certified to drive and will be periodically reevaluated," Ward said. In addition, drivers must attend safety classes and take a risk management course, Ward added.