Authorities said a 74-year-old driver lost control of a Georgia school bus carrying more than 20 high school football players before it overturned on a busy highway.
The bus, transporting the Salem High School football team from Conyers, a suburb of Atlanta, flipped on State Route 138 in Rockdale County at approximately 10.48pm on Friday.
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) told Our News Outlet on Saturday morning that preliminary findings identified the driver as Walter Hackett, 74, of Conyers. The vehicle was a yellow 2025 Freightliner school bus.
According to the GSP, Hackett was leaving eastbound Interstate 20 and attempting to turn right onto State Route 138 when he lost control of the bus.
The bus crossed every lane of State Route 138 before colliding with a black Kia Soul traveling in the left northbound lane. The car was driven by 35-year-old Covington resident Calvin Harling.
The impact sent Harling’s Kia spinning approximately 180 degrees counterclockwise, leaving it stopped in the right northbound lane, the GSP said.
The school bus then left the roadway and entered the east shoulder of State Route 138, where it began to overturn and roll.
It came close to completing a full rotation before stopping out of control on its passenger side, according to the GSP.
The school bus was carrying the Salem High School football team from Conyers, Georgia, when it overturned at about 10.48pm on Friday
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) said Saturday that Walter Hackett, 74, was driving the yellow 2025 Freightliner school bus
Authorities said the school bus crossed all the lanes of State Route 138 before striking a black Kia Soul driven by 35-year-old Calvin Harling
The GSP said Saturday that all of the students aboard the bus had been accounted for.
Parents took some students for medical treatment, while others were transported to the hospital by ambulance.
One student was flown to the hospital by Life Flight, authorities said, although no additional information was provided.
Hackett and Harling were also taken to receive medical treatment. Officials did not release details about either man’s condition.
The crash remains under active investigation, the GSP said.
Breauna Harling, Calvin Harling’s sister, confirmed on Facebook that her brother was involved in the school bus crash and said he remained in the hospital on Saturday.
“His car is totaled, but I thank God that his life was preserved!” she wrote. “I’m just glad they don’t have ‘fatal’ next to my brother’s name!”
The Georgia State Patrol said Saturday that all the students involved in the bus crash had been accounted for
MORE STORY: Katie Zacharia Remains ‘Ruthlessly Loyal’ to Trump After Humiliation
Salem High School played an away football game against Greater Atlanta Christian in Norcross at 7.30pm on Friday night
On Saturday morning, Rockdale County Public Schools Superintendent Dr Stephanie S Johnson said there were 22 students and three adults rushed in for medical treatment.
‘Our hearts are with the Salem High School football players, athletic trainers, coaches, staff, and families impacted by last night’s bus accident,’ Johnson wrote.
She added that she was ‘deeply grateful that there were no fatalities,’ adding that ‘many’ people had already been treated and released.
The Rockdale County school district told local news outlets on Friday that, in total, 27 people had been involved in the crash.
The bus was carrying 17 football players, seven trainers, two coaches and one driver. At least two medical helicopters were requested, the district said.
Head coach Fredrick Green was working on locating where all the affected team members were taken for treatment.
Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Arthur M Blank Hospital was placed on standby for the ‘possibility of a mass casualty event,’ Fox 5 Atlanta reported.
The hospital took in at least three patients who were treated and released, according to 11Alive.
Videos of the bus crash showed a large emergency response with firefighters and ambulances responding to the scene.
One side of the bus’s roof collapsed completely, while the front was smashed in and windows were shattered all over.
Salem High School had played an away game against Greater Atlanta Christian in Norcross at 7.30pm on Friday night.
The high schools, both in the Atlanta area, are roughly a 50-minute drive from each other.
Katherine White, Greater Atlanta Christian School’s vice president of advancement, said she was ‘especially praying for healing for those who were injured and for God’s peace and comfort for everyone impacted.’
‘Having just hosted your team on our campus last night, we especially want to reach out and offer our care and support during this difficult time,’ White said, according to AtlantaNewsFirst.
Georgia State Route 138 was temporarily shut down after the crash, with travelers advised to seek alternate routes.
Our News Outlet has reached out to Rockdale County Public Schools for further comment.
