A school bus accident that injured elementary school students occurred on February 12 on Jenkins Road near Jenkins Dairy Road. The bus, from Bessemer City Elementary School, was carrying 48 students at the time. According to the search warrants filed by Gastonia police, the driver of the bus lost control after being distracted by a child.
Cause of the Accident
The bus driver explained to police that the accident happened when she looked back after noticing a child standing up while the bus was moving. As a result, the bus drifted off the road to the right. When the driver attempted to correct the bus, she felt the back of the bus slip, causing her to lose control and crash the bus into trees near the roadside. The incident was detailed in the search warrant filed by Corp. Adam Carpenter.
Injuries and Hospitalization
As a result of the crash, one child sustained a possible broken arm, and 14 others were transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Fortunately, the majority of the students did not sustain severe injuries.
