Buckingham County, VA
Below are press releases from the Virginia State Police regarding two different school bus accidents one on Tuesday – February 26, 2013 the other this Wednesday morning in Augusta County. They are unrelated.
At 4:18 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 26), Virginia State Police Trooper K.D. Nelson was called to the scene of a single-vehicle crash. The crash occurred on Rte 698 about a mile east of Rte 627 in Buckingham County.
A Buckingham County school bus was traveling east on Rte 698 when the rear wheels started sliding on the slick, mud-covered, gravel road. The bus then ran off the right side of the road, struck the embankment and two trees, and then overturned onto its side across the road.
Three of the 13 students on the bus were transported by from the scene to Southside Hospital for treatment. Another five were later taken to the hospital for treatment. None of the students suffered serious injuries. The driver, a 47-year-old female Buckingham resident, was not injured in the crash. No charges will be filed.
Right after the crash, the driver and the students were able to take refuge from the rain and cold temps in a nearby residence. VDOT responded to assess the road conditions. The students were a mix of elementary, middle and high school.
Unrelated school bus accident in Augusta County on Wednesday – February 27, 2013:
THREE INJURED IN AUGUSTA COUNTY CRASH
AUGUSTA CO. – A school bus driver and two students were injured Wednesday morning (Feb. 27) in a two-vehicle crash in Augusta County. At 7:26 a.m., Virginia State Police Trooper Z.J. Blevins was called to the scene of the crash in the 1100 block of Lee Jackson Highway/Route 11.
An Augusta County school bus was southbound on Route 11 when it pulled off onto the right shoulder to turn around and head north on Route 11. (The shoulder is wider at this location to allow for the bus to make the turn safely and legally.) As the bus pulled across the southbound lanes to head north, it pulled out in front of a southbound 1996 Jeep Grand Cherokee. The Jeep Grand Cherokee was unable to avoid the bus and struck it in the side.
The driver of the bus, Bruce K. Pugh, 61, of Staunton, and two students were transported by ambulance to Augusta Health for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. There were approximately 30 elementary and middle school students on the bus at the time of the crash. Pugh was wearing a seat belt.
The driver of the Jeep Grand Cherokee, Ann S. Schooley, 53, of Staunton, was not injured in the crash. Schooley was wearing a seat belt.
Pugh was charged with failure to yield the right of way.
All lanes were reopened by 8:15 a.m.
