Shock and Relief in Columbia as School Bus Crashes into Backyard

Shock and Relief in Columbia as Bus Veers off Road into Backyard

Columbia, S.C. — Columbia residents got quite the surprise on Friday afternoon when a school bus carrying students from Dutch Fork High School found itself in an unexpected place: someone’s backyard. This startling incident unfolded on Gauley Drive, leading to a collective gasp from neighbors when they spotted the bus, just a stone’s throw away from a pond!

What Happened?

The bus, operated by the Lexington-Richland School District Five, ended up off the road and rolling down a slope before coming to a halt in the backyard, creating quite the scene for local homeowners. Fortunately, the Columbia Police reported that there were no serious injuries among the passengers, which included a driver and several students. Phew!

According to a spokesperson for the school district, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) responded swiftly to the scene to assess everyone on board, but thankfully, none needed to be transported to the hospital. Can you imagine the sigh of relief after hearing that?

Witness Accounts

Residents described the scene as shocking but were undeniably relieved that no one was hurt. Leslie Grogan, a neighbor living just across the pond, shared her astonishment: “I looked out the window, and there’s a bus across the pond in my neighbor’s yard,” she exclaimed. Her husband, Steve Grogan, was equally startled, noting how quickly cars can fly down that hill. “To turn off that road, go over that hill, and not roll over… they did a good job,” he added appreciatively.

Homeowner’s Reaction

The homeowner whose yard was invaded by the bus was not home at the time, but she learned about the crash via her Ring doorbell. Thankfully, she was grateful that the incident didn’t result in any injuries. “I’m just glad everyone is okay,” she commented, expressing her relief.

School District’s Response

In a formal statement, School District Five confirmed the details of the incident: “A bus carrying students from Dutch Fork High School was involved in an incident on Friday, December 13, 2024. The staff and students were examined by EMS on site and no one required transport to a medical facility,” they said. The district also assured everyone that student safety is always their utmost priority, promising to investigate the incident thoroughly alongside the Columbia Police Department.

The Investigation Continues

The Columbia Police Department is actively looking into how this unusual incident occurred and what might have led the bus to veer off course. Meanwhile, the students were safely moved to another bus and taken to their usual drop-off sites post-incident. Such a relief to know they all made it home safely!

As the community wraps its head around this episode, many residents are left pondering: how could a bus end up in someone’s yard? But more importantly, they’re grateful that the outcome wasn’t worse. No injuries, no drama, just one surprising story to share around the dinner table.

Stay tuned for more updates as the story develops. Here’s hoping that this incident serves as a reminder to all about the importance of road safety — especially when it comes to big yellow buses!