Ten students were injured Tuesday morning after a Walker County school bus veered off Cook Road and crashed into a tree, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
The crash occurred around 7:15 a.m. on September 9, as the bus was traveling southbound on Cook Road in LaFayette. Authorities say the driver, 48-year-old Amanda Broyles, failed to maintain her lane while navigating a curve. The bus left the roadway, continued along the right shoulder, and struck a tree with the front right side of the vehicle.
A preliminary investigation by Georgia State Patrol indicates the damage to the bus was so severe that its front entrance and exit door could not be opened. Of the 37 students on board, ten sustained injuries. Five of those students were transported to Children’s Hospital at Erlanger in Chattanooga for further treatment. The nature of the injuries has not been disclosed, but officials say none appear to be life-threatening.
Broyles, the bus driver, was issued a citation for failure to maintain lane. Sheriff Steve Wilson confirmed the details of the crash but said it remains unclear what caused the bus to leave the road initially.
Walker County Schools Superintendent Damon Raines stated the bus was transporting students from three schools: Naomi Elementary, LaFayette Middle, and LaFayette High School.
Georgia State Patrol continues to investigate the crash.