Orangeburg, South Carolina — A school bus carrying 42 students ran off a roadway Tuesday morning and crashed into a mobile home, prompting a major emergency response and sending multiple students and the driver to a hospital.
The crash happened around 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 18 on Shillings Bridge Road in Orangeburg, according to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety.
Authorities said the 2023 Thomas school bus was traveling west on Shillings Bridge Road and attempting to turn left onto Mill Branch Road when the incident occurred.
According to officials, the bus turned onto Mill Branch Road before running off the roadway to the left and striking a house.
42 Students Were Riding the Bus
At the time of the crash, 42 students from Clark Middle School and Orangeburg-Wilkinson High School were riding aboard the bus, according to the Orangeburg County School District.
The mobile home was reportedly unoccupied when the bus struck it, preventing what could have been an even more serious situation. Emergency crews responded to the scene as officials worked to assess the students and driver.
Eighteen students and the bus driver were transported to a hospital for further evaluation, according to local reports. They were later released to their parents or guardians.
The remaining students were evaluated at school.
Officials have not provided a detailed account of the injuries sustained in the crash, and the full circumstances surrounding what caused the bus to leave the roadway remain under investigation.
Driver Placed on Administrative Leave
The Orangeburg County School District confirmed that the bus driver has been placed on administrative leave while officials investigate the crash.
The district said the decision was made pending the outcome of the investigation and emphasized that the safety of students and staff remains its top priority.
The school district also said it followed established safety procedures while responding to the accident and would continue cooperating with law enforcement as investigators work to determine exactly what happened.
Officials praised the emergency personnel who responded to the scene, expressing gratitude to first responders, law enforcement officers, medical professionals and district staff who helped the students and driver.
Student Witness Says Crash Will Stay With Him
For some students and families in the community, the crash has been particularly unsettling. Sophomore Victor Olivos was reportedly waiting outside his home for his own school bus when he saw the crash unfold.
Although Olivos was relieved that he was not among the students aboard the bus, the experience left him shaken. He told local television station that he expects the incident to remain in his thoughts whenever he rides a school bus.
His reaction reflects the concern that can follow an accident involving a school bus, particularly when dozens of students are involved.
Investigation Into Crash Continues
Authorities have not yet announced what caused the bus to leave the roadway or whether mechanical problems, road conditions, driver actions or another factor played a role.
For now, the investigation remains ongoing, while the students who were hospitalized have returned to their families.
The school district has said it will continue cooperating with investigators as officials work to establish the circumstances leading up to the crash.
As the investigation continues, questions remain about what happened in the moments before the bus left Mill Branch Road and whether any additional safety measures may be needed.
What do you think should happen after a school bus crash involving so many students? Share your thoughts and concerns in the comments below.
