Two people were carried to a local hospital following a Monday morning accident involving a Lamar County School District bus and a car inside the city limits of Sumrall. The accident occurred south of town on Hwy. 589.
Five Purvis High School students were being transported to Sumrall High School where they participate in the district’s Culinary Arts program.
LCSD Superintendent Tess Smith and Asst. Supt. Wayne Folkes were on the scene as was Transportation Dept. Manager Pat Kribbs and members of the LCSD police department. Smith said she received a call at her Purvis office a little after 8 a.m. and traveled to the scene of the accident.
The accident occurred in the curve at Cole Springs Church.
“We don’t know any details right now, but another vehicle was invovled in the accident,” said Smith.
Smith said she talked to the bus driver before they put her in the ambulance, the students and the driver of the other vehicle.
“There were no major injuries indicated, but they are all going to be checked out to make sure they are OK,” the superintendent said.
The district’s bus driver and one student were transported to the hopital to be checked out.
The other students were taken to Sumrall High School where their parents were picking them up and they could follow up with medical professionals as needed.
“We are just so thankful and so very blessed that they were protected,” said Smith, “especially when you look at where it occurred. I’m thankful the power pole was there. Ironically after the snowstorm it had been reset, so I think it being there and the fact that it held prevented this from being a worse accident than it was.”
The female driver of the other vehicle was not injured, "just shaken up," according to family members on the scene. She had no passengers with her.
Members of the Sumrall Police Department and Volunteer Fire Department were on the scene helping with traffic and logistics.
