ELLENWOOD, GA – A school bus accident in DeKalb County Wednesday morning resulted in 19 students being sent to different medical facilities for precautionary measures, according to district officials. The crash took place at 4223 River Road in Ellenwood at around 8:20 a.m.
A vehicle and school bus collision left the bus in a ditch with a damaged front. The other vehicle that was involved in the crash sustained a severely crushed hood.
Earlier reports stated minor injuries of four students, whereas someone from the car complained of moderate injuries. The bus was en route to Salem Middle School, carrying 25 students at the time of the incident. Notably, the bus lacked seat belts.
A parent of one of the students involved, Jalisa Bradley, shared her 6th-grade daughter’s account of the frantic situation immediately after the crash. Her daughter suffered a black eye and swelling on her face. “It’s just one of those things you can’t even prepare for,” Bradley said. She continued describing the terrifying circumstance, stating, “I just really hope everybody is safe.”
Raymond Stanley, DeKalb County Schools’ executive director for transportation, mentioned the bus driver, a longtime district employee, handled the situation correctly. He emphasized that the district prioritized student safety and driving conduct seriously.