The driver of a car that was involved in an accident with two school buses in Horry County on Tuesday morning has been charged with reckless driving in dangerous weather conditions and driving without valid driver’s license.
According to Sonny Collins, spokesperson for the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the two school buses were stationary in heavy traffic on Highway 707, when a car pulled out from the adjacent Big Block road and side swiped both buses. The school buses were both on their way to drop children off at school.
The driver of the car that caused the accident, an as yet unidentified female, appeared to lose control of her vehicle as she came around the corner. Rainy weather conditions and wet, slippery roads appeared to play a role in causing the accident.
Sonny Collins has confirmed that the female driver was arrested following the incident, and will be charged with reckless driving in adverse weather conditions, as well as driving without a valid driver’s license. Only minimal damage was caused to the buses, with no injuries.
The Horry County Schools spokesperson, Teal Britton, reports that the accident occurred at around 7.30am on Tuesday morning, at the intersection between Highway 707 and Big Block Road. The buses, which had collected students from the St. James and Socastee areas, was on its way to drop the children off at Early College High School, Horry Georgetown Technical College and the Scholar’s Academy at Coastal Carolina University. According to Britton, this is the first time that two Horry County school buses have been involved in the same accident.
According to local authorities, two students were transported by ambulance to Waccamaw Hospital to be looked over by doctor’s on their request. These students were however found to have no injuries.
Britton reports that there were 27 students on one of the buses, and 24 on the other bus. After preliminary examinations by rescue personnel, all the children were found to be free of injuries and the buses were permitted to continue on their way to drop the students off at school.
The driver of the car was released from custody later in the day, and will return to court next month to defend her charges and be sentenced. She will most likely be facing a hefty fine and her car will be impounded until she is able to prove that she holds a valid driver’s license.