Durham Public Schools students involved in a school bus crash Monday are expected to return to classes Tuesday, November 26, 2024. The incident occurred along Johnson Mill Road near South Lowell Road, sending ten students to Duke Hospital with minor injuries.
The crash unfolded as the bus, carrying 20 students from Mangum Elementary School, navigated a curve and left the roadway. According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the driver over-corrected, causing the vehicle to overturn and strike a tree before stopping in the middle of the road. This event underscores the ongoing concerns for student safety during school transportation and prompts a review of driver protocols.
DPS Superintendent Anthony Lewis expressed relief that the students’ injuries were minor. “We are relieved to learn that our scholars are being treated for minor injuries,” Lewis stated. “The accident is under investigation, and our students are being released to their families.”
Authorities have indicated the bus driver will be cited for failure to maintain lane control. The driver’s name had not been released by Durham Public Schools or the State Highway Patrol as of Tuesday afternoon. The investigation remains active as officials work to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident.
Parents shared their immediate distress with WRAL News, describing the shock of receiving notification about the crash.
