One man is in critical condition and over thirty children were sent to local hospitals following a serious school bus accident that took place in Lincoln County, Kentucky.
According to witnesses there were two different school buses traveling on Thornhill Lane, in an area called Cash Hill which has been long identified as being a particularly dangerous road. One of the buses was apparently about to strike the other from behind, and in order to avoid the rear end collision the driver apparently tried to take evasive action. Kentucky State Police Trooper Robert Purdy said, “The bus swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid that collision and ended up striking a white pickup truck head on.”
The white pick up truck was being driven by 36-year old William Otis Coleman. Family members have indicated that he is in critical condition at the UK Hospital, and that he is showing some improvement after doctors there installed a special tube designed to alleviate swelling he was experiencing in his brain.
The scene of the accident had recently undergone some renovations specifically because it had presented dangers in the past. According to one witness, “There’s two sharp curves close together and people drive too fast. I don’t know what caused this accident.”
In addition to William Coleman, the decision was made to take more than thirty children to local hospitals. Though officials had initially indicated that none of the children had been injured, that decision was modified. A bus took most of the children, though three were transported by ambulance. According to Don Gilliam of Lincoln Emergency Management, “A lot of times after a wreck, sudden trauma, you start to have aches and pains you didn’t know you had. Your adrenaline is pumping pretty good.” Though most of the children were treated and released, one child needed to be admitted to Ephraim McDowell Hospital, though no further information was provided as to their condition.
There is no word on the condition of the bus driver, 44-year old Judy Asberry of Hustonville, nor has any information been released regarding her previous driving record or years of service with the bus company or school district. The police are continuing to investigate the accident, which shut down Kentucky 78 for several hours.