Jefferson County School Bus Accident

According to information provided by the Jefferson County Department of Education, School Bus 98 went off of the shoulder of the road and wrecked. Bus 98 had just delivered children to Talbott Elementary School and it was in route to the Patriot Academy and Jefferson County High School when the wreck occurred. Approximately 31 children were on the bus at the time of the accident and two of the students had minor injuries. Limited information regarding the accident indicated that the bus was traveling a narrow road and the tire went off the shoulder. The bus driver was in the process of trying to redirect the bus onto the road when it struck a tree. When the road at the site of the accident was measured it was 8ft and 2 inches in width and the bus is 8 feet wide, leaving no room for any adjustment.

Supervisor of Transportation Sherry Dotson said that the bus driver in question, Kenton Williams, is a well-respected driver for the Jefferson County Department of Education. Williams was cited with failure to exercise due care which, according to Dotson, most likely resulted from Williams’ statement that he had opened a side window just before the incident in response to student complaints that something was flying through the air. The Department of Education expressed their concern for the students on Bus 98 and relief that injuries were few and minor. Williams, who is a two year veteran driver with Jefferson County, will continue to service his route and no disciplinary action will be taken according to Supervisor Dotson. She said, “He is a very good, well-liked driver. The road is extremely narrow, and he did his best to recover the bus once it went off of the shoulder. Sometimes, no matter how careful you are, accidents happen. We are just thankful that no one was seriously injured.”