Contrary to a rumor rapidly spreading across town, a Pinewood Christian Academy bus and a pickup were not involved in a serious crash at 4:30 p.m. Monday on Highway 196. Georgia State Patrol troopers reported the almost-routine traffic accident resulted in a few minor injuries.
GSP Trooper Rob Barry said the bus was traveling 50-55 miles per hour east on Highway 196 when it impacted the rear of a pickup that had slowed to 10-15 mph to make a right-hand turn off the highway onto Dairy Road.
Barry said the bus driver apparently did not realize the truck was traveling slowly. One of a handful of children on the bus reportedly hurt her arm, and the driver and passenger of the pickup sustained minor injuries, the trooper said.
The pickup was driven by an off-duty Liberty County Sheriff’s deputy, Steven Wingate. Wingate’s girlfriend, Skyler Deloach, was in the front passenger seat, Barry said.
After the impact, the bus ran off the roadway and the pickup was pushed off the road and into a four-wheeler at the side of the road. A teenage boy who was riding on the four-wheeler witnessed the accident and jumped off the four-wheeler before the truck ran into it, the trooper said.
GSP Trooper Rob Barry said the bus was traveling 50-55 miles per hour east on Highway 196 when it impacted the rear of a pickup that had slowed to 10-15 mph to make a right-hand turn off the highway onto Dairy Road.
Barry said the bus driver apparently did not realize the truck was traveling slowly. One of a handful of children on the bus reportedly hurt her arm, and the driver and passenger of the pickup sustained minor injuries, the trooper said.
The pickup was driven by an off-duty Liberty County Sheriff’s deputy, Steven Wingate. Wingate’s girlfriend, Skyler Deloach, was in the front passenger seat, Barry said.
After the impact, the bus ran off the roadway and the pickup was pushed off the road and into a four-wheeler at the side of the road. A teenage boy who was riding on the four-wheeler witnessed the accident and jumped off the four-wheeler before the truck ran into it, the trooper said.