February 4, 2023
By: Dwayne Page
A DeKalb County School bus loaded with 32 students was involved in a traffic accident after school Friday afternoon at the intersection of South Congress Boulevard and Bryant Street near Walgreens.
No one was injured in the mishap.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, 38-year-old Brandi O’Conner was driving a 2013 Bluebird bus (#39) turning left (southbound) from East Bryant Street onto State Route 56 (South Congress Boulevard). As O’Conner made the left turn, the bus struck the front end of a 2018 Nissan Altima, driven by 53-year-old Kelli Bullard who had been traveling northbound on State Route 56 (South Congress Boulevard) when stopping at the four-way intersection of East Bryant Street. Both vehicles remained in the roadway upon the THP’s arrival. Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts at the time of the accident.
The students were later transferred to another bus to be taken home. Although the bus received minor damage, it will be taken out of service until it is re-inspected.