Follow us on

Listen live to Atlanta's breaking news, severe weather, & traffic online

recent on-air advertisers

Now Playing

News/Talk WSB
Listen live to ...

Posted: 2:53 a.m. Monday, May 21, 2012

Investigators still don’t know cause of I-20 bus wreck

Bus crash
Six school buses headed to Six Flags were involved in an afternoon crash that occurred south of Social Circle and east of Covington at mile marker 98 on I-20. Several passengers were hurt including a bus driver.

Related

Chain-reaction school bus wreck on I-20
Bus crash in Newton photo
Bus crash in Newton

By Jay Black and Amanda Moyer

SOCIAL CIRCLE —

Investigators still aren’t sure what set off a nasty chain-reaction crash involving six school buses Saturday in Newton County, but investigators have told WSB's Richard Sangster that charges are possible.

About 65 people were hurt when the buses from Burke County Middle School in Waynesboro crashed on their way to Six Flags.

Seven buses were traveling on I-20 westbound when the crash happened near a construction zone at Highway 11 in Social Circle Saturday morning.

“As the buses slowed, one bus struck the rear of another, setting off a chain-reaction crash. The passenger car was the last vehicle in the line and struck the rear of the sixth bus," Georgia State Patrol spokesman Gordy Wright said.

Lt. Tyrone Oliver with the Newton County Sheriff's Office told Channel 2 Action News that most of the kids were treated for minor injuries. Most of them had bumps and bruises.

About 260 kids from the school were headed to the amusement park as a reward for good grades.

"One of the buses slammed on the brakes and went over and we tried to dodge away from it, but we couldn't," said student Tyler McGlohorn.

The bus driver who was airlifted to Grady Memorial Hospital after the wreck is now “in good condition.”

Angela Anthony, 44, of Midville had to be cut from the wreckage. But her family says she is improving and could go home soon.

"She's good. She's stable, she's in good condition" Anthony's oldest son, Donnell, told Channel 2 Action News.

Burke County is south of Augusta and borders the South Carolina state line.

Emergency personnel from Newton and Morgan counties, the State Patrol and the cities of Covington and Social Circle responded.  Morgan County sent several buses to the scene to help transport uninjured children.