A Rockbridge County school bus carrying students home from Central Elementary School was involved in an accident on the bridge over the Maury River over Rte. 11 Wednesday afternoon, school officials said.
The accident happened around 3:20 p.m. after a pickup truck crossing the bridge over the bypass in the northbound lanes merged too early into the lane the with the school bus, Rockbridge County Public Schools Superintendent Phillip Thompson said. No one was hurt.
The road was blocked for more than an hour while multiple emergency vehicles responded to the scene and another bus was brought in to take students home.
“The CES school administration and staff did an excellent job being on scene and assisting with what was certainly a frightening experience for some of our youngest students,” Thompson said.
A few parents complained on Facebook that they were not notified of the accident shortly after it happened, but Thompson said the division’s first responsibility is to make sure students and staff are safe.
“A couple of parents were upset that they saw it on social media from other drivers on the road before the school was able to notify them,” Thompson said. “Once we have time to assess the situation, we can better alert parents to what is truth and what is rumor. “
Thompson said CES Principal Kelly Jones called each parent individually once she knew all the students were safe.
Students were either taken home on a different bus or were picked up by their parents, Thompson said.
“We are grateful for the quick response of our first responders, the county garage employees, and our RCPS administrators,” Thompson said.
Hannah Brooks wrote on Facebook that two of her children were on the bus and shared pictures of the large emergency response.
“All the kids were very scared and crying, and there were pre-k kids on that bus,” Brooks wrote. “My older two were on it and I was scared to death. I’m glad it wasn’t worse.”
The driver hasn’t been identified. It’s not clear if he is facing charges.
