School bus, van collide

More than a dozen taken to Tuomey; no one seriously injured

Chris Moore / The Item Ricky Warren with Ford's Wrecker Service sweeps up shards of broken glass before towing the bus that collided with a van Tuesday afternoon on Kingsbury Road. More than a dozen people were taken to Tuomey Regional Medical Center, but none suffered from serious injuries. School bus, van collide Manning siblings impress judges on 'American Idol' Lee school district fires transportation supervisor City hears residents' concerns Stolen signs prompt investigation Store seized in drug bust **View ads from the last 7 days**

By MARY DOLAN Item Staff Writer
mdolan@theitem.com

More than a dozen people, mostly students, were taken to Tuomey Regional Medical Center after a school bus collided with a van on Kingsbury Road just before 3 p.m. Tuesday, although none were seriously injured.
Lance Cpl. Josef Robinson of the S.C. Highway Patrol said the 1996 Thomas school bus, which was transporting 46 children home from Kingsbury Elementary School and being driven by Tara Jones, 32, of 951 Cambridge Drive, was driving too fast for conditions and rear-ended a 15-passenger Chevrolet van driven by Dale Davis, 38, of 3755 Dorothy Lane, Gable, that was attempting to turn into a driveway. Davis was traveling alone and was wearing a seatbelt, Robinson said. He said charges are pending.

The wreck closed the stretch of Kingsbury Road from Guignard Drive to Lewis Road for a little more than an hour.

Sumter School District 17 spokeswoman Shelly Galloway said she was thankful no one was seriously injured.

"We are very thankful for the immediate response by law enforcement and our administrators who took control of the scene to ensure the safety of our students," she said.

Galloway said no disciplinary action would be taken against the bus driver right away.

Chris Moore / The Item Sumter County Sheriff's Deputy James Ardis comforts a group of children from Kingsbury Elementary School after their bus collided with a van just before 3 p.m.

"We will make a decision and handle it appropriately once we have the (accident) report," she said.

Several yards of black skid marks trailed behind the yellow school bus where it came to a stop. Children gathered in the front yard of a nearby house as they awaited another school bus or parents to pick them up.

Tuomey spokeswoman Brenda Zilch said a total of 12 students and two adults were being evaluated Tuesday afternoon. By early assessments, it appeared none of the injuries were serious and everyone would be treated and released, Zilch said.

Frank Waggoner, county bus supervisor, said he estimated the bus sustained about $12,000 in damage. The front windshield was shattered and the bumper hung loosely from the front.

Waggoner said the bus would be out of service until it could be repaired. Both the bus and the van had to be towed from the scene.

Parent Diane Glasscock parked nearby and walked to the scene to pick up her 6-year-old son, Zachary Glasscock.

"As a parent, it's the most frightening thing in the world to know your son is in a bus accident," she said.

Chris Moore / The Item Phillip Jackson, principal of Kingsbury Elementary School, talks with a student before she returns to school to board another bus after the incident.

She said she received a phone call from the school alerting her of the accident around 3 p.m. but was told right away that her son was not injured.

Sekenyia Williams arrived at the scene to get her son, Dazmin Thompson, 7.

She said she was glad her son appeared to be fine but had been filled with worry initially when she got the call. She said it's hard to describe what she felt.

"I have no words," she said. It was "shock and panic at the same time."

The South Carolina Highway Patrol is still investigating.

Contact Staff Writer Mary Dolan at mdolan@theitem.com or (803) 774-1294.