A 25-year-old Florida man driving a rental truck that crashed into a school bus on a highway near Bacon, Georgia, on Wednesday, Aug. 12, 2020, helped rescue injured students before being taken to a hospital where he died from his own crash injuries. Read story here.
The school bus driver, also injured in the crash, also helped rescue trapped children. Of the 10 kids on the bus, at least 6 were hospitalized.
The truck driver likely was at fault, as he rear-ended the bus, which the Georgia State Patrol says was stopped and unloading students. But there are questions about what caused the accident not answered by the initial news reports.
Was the truck driver unable to see the bus in time because of a road curve?
Did the bus driver use proper procedures? Vehicles in both directions must stop when a school bus’s “Stop” sign is extended and its red lights flash, so kids can safely cross the road, but the “Stop” sign isn’t extended in the accident scene photo.
Culprit or not, the truck driver’s actions following the crash deserve admiration. The photo of the truck shows how severe the impact was, and it’s not surprising he didn’t survive. That he managed to jump out, climb into the school bus, lift seats off trapped children, and help them off the bus is almost beyond comprehension.
A look at the rental truck inspection and repair records might give a clue if there was a mechanical failure that led to the crash.
It is reminiscent of mechanical failures of other rental vehicles involved in accidents.
Injured and rescuing the children was brave and honorable.
Mechanical failure is unlikely. Ryders are well maintained, and he drove it from Jacksonville without problems. Distracted driving or falling asleep is more likely. Accident investigators will figure it out.