A school bus driving down some back roads in Pike County, Alabama recently rolled over in a terrible accident that resulted in the injury of 41 students. According to a report by Valorie Lawson on WSFA.com, the single-vehicle accident took place at the intersection of County Road 2243 and County Road 2246, just a few miles from Goshen Elementary School in the morning before class.

According to school officials, the bus was carrying 41 children when it wrecked and made a nearly three-quarter roll onto the driver’s side. Responding emergency medical crews rushed 21 students by ambulance to Troy Regional Medical Center, while seven others were taken to Crenshaw Community Hospital in Luverne, Alabama. Thirteen additional students with less pressing injuries were taken to hospitals by another bus for medical treatment.

Thankfully, even the ones taken by ambulance suffered relatively minor injuries, with the most serious appearing to be a broken arm. Cuts and scrapes were by far the most commonly reported injury, surprising given the severity of the accident.

The Alabama State Troopers have said that no charges will be filed relating to the accident. “It was an accident. It was unfortunate,” said Pike County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Bazzell, adding that he had not anticipated any charges.

According to an accident investigator’s report, the school bus driver was traveling north on County Road 2243 and was exiting a curve when the right side of the tires slipped off the road. The school bus then followed the tires and completely left the road. The driver steered to the left and as the front tires re-entered the roadway, the back of the bus slid to the right on the wet morning grass. The school bus then overturned onto its right side, rolled over and came to a rest on the driver’s side.

The Troopers reported that while no drug or alcohol tests were administered at the scene of the accident, the driver was “apparently normal” and thus under no suspicion. Pike County Schools did give the bus driver a drug and alcohol test afterward. “That is part of our standard procedure,” said Superintendent Bazzell, who added that results were totally negative.

As Alabama accident attorneys, we routinely see the damage that can result from accidents on winding country roads. If you’ve been the victim of such an accident and need help navigating confusing legal waters, contact our skilled Alabama auto accident lawyers today.