School bus involved in collision

School bus involved in collision

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Friday, April 24. 2009

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A Lamar County school bus was involved in a serious collision Friday afternoon at the intersection of Hwy. 36 West and McCollum Rd., snarling traffic in the area.

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#1 john meadows on 04/24/09 at 08:00 PM

My brother,sister and neice were in that pickup truck.I thought I had lost my brother today due to a stupid mistake by whats supposed to be a professional driver.Who backs a vehicle of any kind up a 55mph highway.We have recently moved to a different house last week and my daughters bus driver decided to let her off near the middle school.She does not know how to get to our new house so she decided to walk to our old house.Luckily a neighbor seen her and picked her up.The reason she got off the bus was because the bus was so packed she had no where to sit.There were kids in the floor of the bus.My daughter is 12 years old.I am outraged with Lamar County bus system.If anyone else has had problems please email me at jmeadowsbarnesville@yahoo.com My brother is okay but is definitly in bad shape.My niece is still throwing up from where the seatbelt hit her stomach.My sister is bruised and shaken.She had to hold my brother why he knocked out and having a seizure.She was screaming for someone to help and the bus driver would'nt even get off the bus to help.Something really needs to be done about this.

#2 Anonymous on 04/24/09 at 09:35 PM

I'm not at all surprised. Last week a Lamar Co school bus pulled out in front of me, and a few weeks before that I was nearly hit by one who underestimated their turn radius. Some driving training is in order for the bus drivers.

#3 Anonymous on 04/25/09 at 12:13 AM

I dont really think it is the school bus systems fault. They cant control what a driver does on the road. I drive for a living and encounter thousands and thousands of idiots daily.
Im sure the driver had a clean record and was cleared to drive. Some ppl make bad choices in life and bad choices while driving.
Sure the driver shouldnt be allowed to drive a school bus anymore because by making the choice they did yesterday they could have put children in danger if there was some on the bus, not to mention other ppls lives endangered.

Bottom line, Driver error, nothing to do with LC schools or bus dept.

#4 Anonymous on 04/25/09 at 12:15 AM

They say it was a short bus.. Just sayin

#5 Anonymous on 04/25/09 at 06:56 AM

Improper backing is illegal in Georgia, hopefully the bus driver was considered at fault by law enforcement.

And it's any surprise that Monroe county no longer wants it's school buses on dirt roads when it rains, with drivers like this.

#6 S. Howard on 04/25/09 at 08:55 AM

All School Bus Drivers go through extensive training; however, the general public does not. More often than not, cars and/or other vehicles try to go around a school bus, cut in front of a school bus, or speed up rather than slow down at the 1st sign of the "Big Yellow Vehicle". It would be simply wonderful if all vehicles would use caution and slow down for ALL School Buses, no matter the location. Unless you have driven a School Bus, you cannot imagine the distractions the driver can encounter. A student gets out of his seat, a student screams out, a student fights with another student, a student upchucks on the bus and all others start screaming. These situations happen daily. It is common for vehicles to pass a school bus while the STOP sign is out. It is common for vehicles to follow too close while its driver is on the cellphone. It is common for vehicles not to use caution rather than courtesy to a School Bus. Driving a School Bus is a tedious job and the safety of its passengers is the top priority. There is a definite need in Lamar County for more School Bus routes to provide fewer students per bus, shorter routes, and Monitors on each bus to assist with student discipline. Some students ride for over an hour. Lamar County BOE does the best it can with the limited dollars provided for transportation. The public can help with this by paying taxes on time, spend more dollars in Lamar County to increase SPLOST and ALWAYS show courtesy and caution for the buses. Most importantly, parents can teach their students about bus conduct and/or behavior. This was an unfortunate accident and was just that, an ACCIDENT. The Lamar Co. BOE needs to be supported not blamed. The School Bus Driver does not need to be chastised for doing an extremely hard job. PS. I personally feel all comments should have a name and not Annonyomus

#7 allen on 04/25/09 at 11:20 AM

thats a good point there howard but what happened here had nothing to do with the schools budget or failure to use cautions it was the driver making a stupid move while driving an empty bus and the only child endangered was the 4 year old in the truck that he pulled out in front of so i really don't think lamar countys tax problems had anything to do with it!!!!!!!!libtard

#8 john meadows on 04/25/09 at 11:29 AM

you must be a bus driver howard.All i'm saying is that they need to watch out for other vehicles.If they go through extensive training then he should be able to handle ANY situation.There were no warning lights of any kind flashing on that bus.If there were than my brother would be alright today.He's not being chastised for doing a extremely hard job hes being chastised for making a stupid decision.The bus driver did accept his blame.He did the right thing by that.I just think these drivers should have a lot more training than what they've got.I have a class a cdl myself.I've drove much bigger vehicles and never would I make a dumb mistake like that.All he had to do was go another half mile and turn right on the same road he was trying to back into.

#9 Anonymous on 04/25/09 at 11:48 AM

I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH LAMAR COUNTY SCHOOLS BUS DEPARTMENT ALSO!IT IS HOW THEY LEAVE THE KIDS STANDING OUTSIDE WHEN ITS HOT AND COLD TO WAIT ON A BUS FOR FOURTY-FIVE MINUTES! SCHOOL AT THE HIGH SCHOOL ENDS AT 3:00 BUT THEY HAVE TO WAIT OUTSIDE UNTIL 3:45 WHEN THE BUS COMES FOR THEM NO MATTER HOW HOT OR COLD IT IS!

#10 Anonymous on 04/25/09 at 12:04 PM

Not bad. Dr. Bill Truby said Jimmy's paint & body shop.

#11 anon on 04/26/09 at 05:47 PM

when i drove by the wreck the truck your brother was driving looked like a two seater. if there were 3 people in truck where was your neice sitting?

#12 mccook on 04/26/09 at 10:14 PM

anonymous #9 - Do you really think that is the bus deptartment's fault? That's just the way it is. ALL schools have students who have to wait outside until the bus comes. The primary and elementary schools get out a little earlier and I think some buses run a route there and then pick up high school students and run a route there too. They are also trying to keep high school students separated from elementary school students.....and praise the Lord!! Sometimes they have bus drivers sick and nobody to fill in - like when the flu season hits and EVERYBODY is sick. It's just the way it is.

#13 Anonymous on 04/27/09 at 07:39 AM

Cannot remember the bus number, but the bus travels Van Buren road every afternoon. I, on multiple occasions have had to stop and backup to keep from being run over in the street by a backing bus.He just stops and starts to back up....idiot!

#14 cats on 04/27/09 at 09:21 AM

Jeez, it's not like it's the Sahara desert in the summer or that they're standing in a foot of snow in the winter.
A little bit of standing around isn't going to kill these kids. I wish parents would understand that the only way to build character in our young people is to let them face an uncomfortable situation once in a while.
And stop with the caps lock already.

#15 Anonymous on 04/27/09 at 09:44 AM

Every driver makes mistakes and they are called accident. If it is a big vehicle it tends to be a big mistake. The bus drivers do go through extensive training and safety meetings every month and state updates twice a year. How many driver safety meetings have you gone through?
The disrespect to buses that have your children on them is awful. Why don't cars slow down when they see a big yellow bus in any kind of situation, instead of speeding up and blowing their horn to warn the driver.
Yellow is the color of warning pay attention there are children on these buses that may be getting on or off!
Slow down if you see a stopped school bus or a slow one.
Don't cuss the buses for being slow
be Thankful there is someone who cares to drive your children to and from school.

#16 J. Saunders on 04/27/09 at 10:01 AM

I agree that driving a school bus is a very hard job. My hat is off to those that do it. I don't think that I could do it. That said I would like to point out that it clearly states in the article that there were no children on the bus. What then could be the posssible reason for the bus driver to be distracted or feel thet he/she needed to back up in the first place? this was not some surface street or country dirt road. This is a heavily traffiked state HWY. I agree that the BOE shouldn't be blamed. They do however accept responsibility for these drivers when thsy put them on the road. That is why they have insurence on them. This was a serious error on the drivers' part, one that could have been fatal for the people that were hit, and someone must be held accountable!! All that said, I am very grateful to God that noone lost ther lives in this terrible accident. My prayers go out to the families affected by this incident and I am including the bus driver too: he must be devastated.

#17 Anonymous on 04/27/09 at 11:16 AM

I am not cussing them for being slow...I do however, cuss when they proceed to start backing up in the middle of the road without any thought as to whom else may be on the road. I owe this bus or that driver nothin! I don't even live in Lamar county.

#18 S.G on 04/27/09 at 11:20 AM

How do you think I feel? That is the bus that my daughter rides on everyday. Luckily we were out of town and she wasn't riding Friday.

#19 S.G on 04/27/09 at 11:23 AM

You are about as damn stupid as they come. So you are saying because this is a short but is the reason why they had a wreck? Grow up or either get some respect for others. Like I said before this is the bus that my daughter rides everyday to and from school. Accidents happen.

#20 Anonymous on 04/27/09 at 12:21 PM

If the people ranting and raving on here really think that allowing your child to ride the school bus is such a horrible, unsafe thing to do then what kind of parent are you to allow you child to ride? If I felt like I was putting my child's life in danger then I would drive him myself. I don't care if I had to work. You could find a classmate who lives in your area and carpool with that family. Do you even have children riding the buses or are you just blowing off some steam? I grew up riding the buses and I am still in one piece. I just want to thank the bus drivers who take on the responsibility of transporting our children everyday. I understand that accidents happen (but am very sorry for those injured in this wreck) and I hope that you use this wreck as a reminder that accidents can happen. Be careful. Thank you for driving our children and keeping them safe.

#21 A'SHIRLEY on 04/27/09 at 01:07 PM

First off my thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.

Not long ago a citizen hit and killed 5 ppl. 3 of which was kids. She was not driving a "BIG YELLOW BUS". Why is it that its such a big issue when a bus driver makes a mistake? Each and everyone one of us makes mistakes out on the road. No-one is perfect in this world!! I see cops driving around on the darn cell phone. How safe is this? Please tell me...

2nd: I thought it was illegal to pass a bus? When I was little, my bus driver would write down the license plate and turn them in. Is this not done any more?

3rd: Parents need to teach kids the respect of other ppl while being on a bus. I have seen kids throwing things out the window of the bus. Sticking there limbs out of the windows. Standing on the bus ( just bc ). This is not to say about all the fights that break out on the bus and no telling what else. I've even heard of kids having sex on a bus. How disgraceful!!

I agree with the person who said there needs to be another person on the buses today. No wonder why bus drivers are so stressed out and having accidents. I would be and so would the rest of you ( even though your pride would not allow you to admit to it ).

#22 Anonymous on 04/27/09 at 02:53 PM

Johm Meadows.
you said you have a class a license. Well i do too and i drive a tractor trailer every day almost. No matter how much you "train" you can never be prepared for the things that you encounter on the road especially "anything" as you put it. They dont train you how to react to a steering tire blowout nor do they train you how to handle the brake pedal going all the way to the floor when you try to stop as you are traveling 55mph . You just have to learn stuff as you go. However this doesnt apply to the situation at hand. Yes they should have known better than to back up but the training has nothing to do with it. They know not to back up whether or not they were in a commercial vehicle or in a honda civic. They made a poor choice. That is their personal decision. Now they should be without a job.

#23 A'SHIRLEY on 04/27/09 at 04:02 PM

What does backing up have to do with this issue? Didn't they hit from the front of the bus? That is what the pic shows.

#24 Shaunna on 04/27/09 at 07:39 PM

the truck was traveling in the opposite direction. When the bus stopped and backed up he also turned, he was looking behind him while backing up but did not look in front of him, when he turned the wheel he crossed the line right into the path of the truck, the driver didn't even see it coming

#25 A'SHIRLEY on 04/27/09 at 08:37 PM

So, was he backing up onto the highway? That is still unclear to me. Thanks for giving me the scoop.

#26 Anon on 04/27/09 at 09:20 PM

"The driver backed up and, when reattempting the turn, pulled into the path of a compact pickup truck traveling east."

This reads like the bus missed the turn, backed up enough to make the turn and proceeded forward again trying to make turn. The truck was traveling in opposite direction and struck bus as it tried to make the turn.

In the picture, the bus looks to be over half way of making a left turn across the oncoming lane of traffic. The truck looks as if it swerved to its right trying to miss bus, clipped it and continued on until it ran off the road.

If that is correct, I agree backing up had no direct cause of the accident but the driver probably didn't take appropriate look forward when going from backing to pulling forward before making the turn. The driver probably made mistake of thinking that since lane was clear before backing, it must still be clear.

#27 shaunna on 04/28/09 at 05:11 AM

the truck cut his wheel while backing up and his nose went over the yellow line into the path of the truck

#28 Anon on 04/28/09 at 06:46 AM

So the article is incorrect? How do you know this?

#29 Anonymous on 04/28/09 at 08:03 AM

John

Who is your brother, sister, and niece? Dustin, Christy, and Nevah?

#30 S.G on 04/28/09 at 11:14 AM

And just to let everyone know.. this is a subsitute driver for that bus... the actual bus driver is out due to medical reasons. Not that I am taking up for her because she does act a little off her rocker when I put my daughter on the bus... but it is not a fully trained driver on that bus at the present time.

#31 Anonymous on 04/28/09 at 01:34 PM

Red truck first. She arrest, charged with high speed.

#32 Anonymous on 04/28/09 at 02:25 PM

The driver of the CRASH bus has been a full-time driver for a long time. The bus he was going to "rescue" had a part-time driver on it. ALL drivers are fully trained. Do you think if you only drive part-time they only train you part-way? Get Real!! When the system decides to stop catering to the parents and these unruly kids,maybe then they can run a better bus and school system. And by law.....It's a privilege to ride the bus,not mandatory.

#33 Anonymous on 04/28/09 at 04:06 PM

it dont matter if its a part time driver or not. They have the same amount of training. You can operate anything in the world but if you havnt tested in an actual school bus, you cant drive one. I have a license to haul anything from explosives, fuel, doubles, triples, tanker.etc i can operate anything but an airplane. Legally i cant operate a school bus either because i havnt been tested in a school bus. Kinda weird that i went through all kinds of other stuff but i cant drive one. I have to get a seperate thing for school buses.

#34 concerned on 04/28/09 at 05:13 PM

The driver of the bus has been trained according to the standards set by the Dept of Education. It is very intense training that includes classroom and behind the wheel training. This driver is indeed a professional that made a bad decision. Has that not ever happened to each and everyone of us. I would completely trust this driver with my children or grandchildren. I know this driver to be a person of honesty and integerity. This driver made a mistake but deserves to be treated more fairly than some of these comments being made by people who have no idea as to what they are talking about.

#35 Anonymous on 04/28/09 at 06:20 PM

PICK YOUR KIDS UP OR DONATE EXTRA MONEY TO LAMAR COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM SO WE CAN HIRE MORE PEOPLE.

LAMAR COUNTY CAN BARELY GET A POLICEMAN TO DIRECT TRAFFIC TO SAFE GUARD YOUR CHILDREN ACROSS THE STREET SO THE BUSES WANT GET IN ACCIDENT AND YOU ARE CONCERN ABOUT THEM STANDING OUT SIDE. IF THEY WANTED TO, THEY COULD GO INSIDE THE SCHOOL AND STAY COOL. GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY. PUT THE CONCERNS WHERE THEY REALLY MATTER.

#36 Anonymous on 04/28/09 at 07:49 PM

YES, YOU DO OWE THE DRIVER OF THE SCHOOL BUS SOMETHING, BLOW YOUR HORN AND ALERT THEM YOU ARE BEHIND THEM. THEY CAN'T SEE YOU. ITS CALL COURTESY. YOU ALSO OWE THE CHILDREN SOMETHING, HELP YOURSELF AND ALL DRIVERS NOT TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT. YOU HAVE DONE SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AN ACCIDENT, YOU JUST HAD A COURTESY DRIVER, THAT LOOKED OUT FOR YOU. DON'T BE SO UP-TIGHT. YOU SHOULDN'T BE FOLLOWING THE VEHICLE SO CLOSE.

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