UPDATE: 1 dead in accident involving Valdosta City school bus
the Valdosta Police Department Traffic Unit is currently investigating
VALDOSTA, Ga. (WALB) - An accident involving a Valdosta City school bus has left one dead on Friday morning.
At around 6:40 a.m. a pickup truck and a Valdosta City School bus, number 12-5, were involved in an accident on the 1000 block of South Patterson Street.
When first responders arrived at the accident, the pickup truck was partially underneath the side of the school bus and the driver, an 80-year-old male, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Valdosta Police Department (VPD).
At the time of the accident, there were six students on the bus. The bus driver was not injured, and one student complained of an injury, the others were transported to their school for further evaluation.
A local who witnessed the crash believes the school bus was stopped at a stop sign and turned in front of the pickup truck moments before the collision.
”I got here about 8:20 this morning and there was a lot of emergency vehicles here and then I saw a school bus with an older pickup truck up under the side of it. It was right about 9 o’clock. They pulled an elderly gentleman out of the truck and took him. Then they cleaned up the wreckage and left,” the witness said.
The witness says she knew the man who died and is heartbroken by the turn of events for all parties involved.
”I have known him for quite a few years. He was just a nice old gentleman he was probably on his way to go get coffee this morning when it happened,” the witness continued.
VPD released a statement that reads: “Our prayers go out to everyone involved or affected by this terrible accident. We appreciate the assistance from the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Department of Motor Carrier Compliance.”
The accident is currently under investigation by the VPD Traffic Unit and WALB will continue to provide updates to this story.
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