A school bus carrying thirty-five 6th graders from Fairview Elementary to North Habersham Middle School was hit by a truck during today’s morning school rush hour. No one was injured.
The accident happened around 7:30 a.m. on Highway 197 North at Gastley Road just below Bethlehem Baptist Church. The wreck damaged the side of the bus and caused serious damage to the front of the LP Service truck that was involved.
Students inside the bus calmly sat in their seats as they waited to be moved to another bus and taken to school. Those with cellphones contacted their parents to tell them they were okay. Officials say none of the students were hurt but they were shaken up by the accident. They were safely moved to another bus about 30 minutes after the accident and were taken to North Habersham Middle School.
Traffic was slowed down to one lane near the accident as law enforcement and road crews worked to clear the scene. The truck was towed. The damaged bus was driven away about an hour after the wreck.
Now Habersham spoke with the driver of the truck, 41-year old Jason Moore of Clarkesville, shortly after the accident. He says he was driving south on 197 toward Clarkesville when, “The school bus pulled out in front of me. I had nowhere to go.” He says the LP Service truck he was driving was not carrying anything flammable and there was no danger of fire.
The bus driver, 70-year old James Frankum of Demorest, had no comment about the accident and deferred all questions to his supervisor, Habersham County School Transportation Director Tim Dockery. Dockery says school administrators began contacting parents of students onboard the bus shortly after the wreck.
Habersham County School Superintendent Matthew Cooper released a statement following the accident:
“We are very thankful that there were no injuries as a result of the accident. Anytime there is an accident involving a school bus, that is always our first concern.”
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the accident.
This is the second school rush hour accident at the Highway 197 North/Gastley Road intersection since September.
