Crashes involving school transportation are rare, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Between 2004 to 2013, just .4% of all crashes involved school buses. It’s safe to say that school bus drivers are among the safest on the roadway and many of them deeply care about the safety of their passengers. Some go above and beyond to protect those who ride the bus, as in this one incident reported by the Atlanta Journal and Constitution.
On Friday afternoon, bus driver Sharonda Richardson was at the intersection of Maxham and Old Alabama Roads. A truck ran a red light, plowing into a vehicle, which it then pushed beneath the school bus, which was carrying Turner Middle School Students.
The car that was beneath the bus caught fire, which then spread to the bus transporting the middle-school students. Richardson was able to get the students evacuated from the bus and to safety.
Both Richardson and all of the students aboard the bus came out of the incident unscathed, thanks to Richardson’s quick assessment and actions.
Douglas County School System Transportation Department plans to honor Richardson. She will also be nominated for a statewide award for her heroics.
The driver of the vehicle which caught fire suffered injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital. The extent of their injuries was unknown.
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