October 8, 2019
By: Dwayne Page
A school bus with 12 children on board was rear-ended by a motorist on Broad Street this afternoon (Tuesday) at the intersection with South Mountain Street.
According to authorities, an elderly woman driving a Ford car had just pulled out of the Dairy Queen parking lot and turned right heading east but as traffic stopped at the red light in front of her, the woman’s car accelerated and struck the rear of bus #15-43. The car then went off the highway and came to rest on the property of Advance Financial.
No one on board the bus was hurt and the driver of the car also escaped injury.
Director of Schools Patrick Cripps said parents of the students were called to pick them up at the scene. The bus, which had some minor damage to the rear bumper, was taken to the school bus garage. The car sustained considerable damage.
The accident was investigated by the Tennessee Highway Patrol. Members of the Smithville Police and Fire Departments were also on the scene.