School Bus and Truck Collision in Columbia, S.C. – No Injuries Reported
Columbia, S.C. witnessed an alarming incident late Thursday afternoon when a school bus and a box truck collided near Weston Avenue and Prescott Road. Thankfully, despite the scary circumstances, no injuries were reported.
The accident took place in close proximity to J.P. Thomas Elementary School, just off Fairfield Road. According to officials from the Richland One School District, the bus had just left the school when the collision occurred. At the time, it was carrying 24 students who were participating in an afterschool program. Fortunately, emergency responders promptly checked on the students at the scene and cleared them to leave without any concern.
Witnesses like Patrick Ames, a passenger in the truck during the collision, recounted their experience, highlighting how the situation could have turned out much worse. “We were just getting off work and coming up this road right here. I already saw [the bus] kind of pulling out. It was going to be a head-on collision until my coworker swerved and got into the grass area. Then we kind of side-swiped,” Ames explained.
Once the initial shock wore off, Ames made sure he and his coworker were unharmed before checking in on the bus passengers, which included students. He expressed some concern as he has family attending the school; “My little sister goes to this school, so I was making sure she wasn’t on the bus,” he shared.
Parental Concerns and Communication Issues
While the outcome was thankfully safe for everyone involved, one parent expressed her shock upon learning that the bus her daughter usually takes home was in an accident. She voiced frustration over the lack of communication from the school, noting that no one had informed her about the incident.
In response to inquiries about how the district informs parents during such events, Richland One stated, “Parents are notified when there is any sort of accident involving one of our buses. Depending on the situation, either the same bus or a different bus will normally transport students home. Parents do have the option to pick their child up at the school or from the accident scene, which is usually in a different location. It just depends on the circumstances.”
Ongoing Investigation
The South Carolina Highway Patrol is currently investigating the incident to determine the specifics of what occurred. While the immediate aftermath resulted in no injuries, authorities will likely analyze the situation to ensure safety measures are reinforced in school transportation.
In what could have been a tragic scenario, the community can take a sigh of relief knowing that everyone involved walked away unscathed. However, it serves as a reminder of the importance of road safety, particularly in areas around schools where children are present.
As investigations continue and more information becomes available, we encourage everyone to stay informed and involved in discussing safety measures for students and all those who share the road. Make sure to check in with local updates if you’re a parent or someone who frequents the area.
