A morning accident involving a school bus and garbage truck left two students and the driver of the bus with minor injuries. The driver of the other vehicle was cited for improper passing. (contributed photo)
According to Lt. Paul Cosper with the Public Information Office the Georgia State Patrol (GSP), the bus was traveling north on Hwy. 100 when it approached Sewell Creek Road and tried to make a left turn.
A garbage truck traveling behind the bus tried to pass as the bus turned and struck the bus. The two vehicles then went into a ditch.
Cosper said that rumors were spreading that the school bus had overturned. He stated that this was not true, but the garbage truck did turn over.
The driver of the bus and two children complained of injuries and were taken to be checked out at Polk Medical Center.
According to Polk School Superintendent Marvin Williams, the injuries were not serious and the three injured are all fine and have been released from the hospital.
Cosper said that the driver of the garbage truck also had visible injuries but declined medical attention. Cosper stated that the driver of the truck was charged with improper passing.
More details are expected upon completion of the state patrol’s report, which Cosper said should take about three days. Williams said he is awaiting the report from the GSP and that he is not planning an investigation at this time.
“If there is anything in need of investigating when we receive the incident report then we will do so at that time,” Williams said.
“We are just glad that this accident wasn’t as serious as it looked,” he added.
Williams stated that the other students on the bus attended school today.
Posted this morning School bus, truck collide in Cedartown
CEDARTOWN, Ga. (AP) — The Georgia State Patrol says a collision between a school bus and a garbage truck on Georgia Highway 100 in Polk County left the two drivers with cuts and bruises, but none of the 15 children on the bus appeared to be seriously hurt.
Sgt. Wade Chaffin of the Cedartown state patrol post says the accident occurred Tuesday morning when the school bus was making a left turn. He says the truck was behind the bus and was trying to pass on the left and struck the cab portion of the bus.
Chaffin says two children complained of being hurt but did not appear to be seriously injured.
What's up with the truck passing a bus on the left? That's illegal in any circumstance - even if the bus is sitting still. There's no way that driver could've not known the bus was turning. Those buses have blinkers & enough flashing lights to be seen a mile away!!