Alamance-Burlington School System Public Information Officer Les Atkins announced Oct. 16 that the last of seven students were discharged from UNC Chapel Hill Hospital following a school bus crash.
According to a report from the North Carolina Department of Public Safety, 18 students were aboard the bus on the way to B. Everett Jordan Elementary School the morning of Oct. 12.
State Highway Patrol responded to reports of a crash at 7:16 a.m. on Highway 87 near Judge Sharpe Road in Alamance County. The bus driver, 75-year-old Ronald Farrow, traveled off the road to the right, struck a concrete driveway culvert and collided with a wooden structure before coming to a stop — according to the report.
Farrow suffered minor injuries but was not transported from the scene. Troopers later charged him with failure to maintain lane control.
According to a release ABSS Superintendent Dain Butler sent Oct. 12, of the seven injured students, six were taken to the hospital by medical personnel while one was taken by a parent for evaluation.
Atkins referred all of Elon News Network’s questions to ABSS press release statements.
“We are relieved to learn today that all students have been released from the hospital following the ABSS bus wreck last week,” Butler wrote in a press release Oct. 16. “Anytime an incident like this occurs, children naturally have questions and concerns. Our caring staff has worked diligently to address students' worries, even those not directly involved in the accident, to ease any fears they may have.”
By 5 p.m. Oct. 12, two of the elementary school students were discharged from the hospital. One was discharged on Oct. 13 and three more were discharged throughout the day on Oct. 15. The last students was released Oct. 16.
“I want to sincerely thank the first responders, volunteers, and community members who quickly came to the aid of our students,” Butler wrote in an Oct. 12 press release. “The compassion shown by the many individuals who assisted, comforted, and cared for our children is deeply moving.”