County school bus hits ditch, but no injuries
by GREG KAYLOR, Banner Staff Writer
Aug 08, 2012 | 1585 views | 0 0 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
NO INJURIES were reported when a bus slid off the road and into a ditch on Walker Valley Road after the first day of classes dismissed Tuesday afternoon.
NO INJURIES were reported when a bus slid off the road and into a ditch on Walker Valley Road after the first day of classes dismissed Tuesday afternoon.
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Traffic was heavy along Walker Valley Road Tuesday afternoon, but it completely stalled after a Bradley County School bus reportedly slipped off the roadway into a ditch.

Motorists were rerouted while emergency crews worked to clear the scene. No injuries were reported after the accident on the first day of school.

According to Tennessee Highway Patrol trooper Larry Fowler, the driver of bus No. 44 said he eased the vehicle into the ditch on the southbound lane. The driver had gotten over too far to the right on the narrow road as he was meeting an oncoming vehicle, Fowler indicated.

The bus was carrying 41 Walker Valley High School students and was scheduled to meet up at a North Lee Highway location where high school students change buses, according to Gary Austin of the Bradley County School System.

Students were evacuated from the bus and awaited transfer to a backup or were released to parents by WVHS Principal Danny Coggin.

Bradley County Emergency Medical Service personnel were on the scene to make sure students were not injured. Bradley County Fire Rescue firefighters also aided at the scene while Bradley County Sheriff’s Office deputies rerouted traffic.

No charges were filed and no injuries were reported, according to Fowler.