Students, driver released from hospital after bus accident

GAINESVILLE - Hall County School officials say they are thankful that Friday morning's school bus accident on East Hall Road was not worse than it was.

School system spokesman Gordon Higgins said all 16 people taken to the hospital after the bus overturned have been released.

"There were no serious injuries from the accident, some bumps and bruises and scrapes and the kids and bus driver are shaken up, of course, but nobody is seriously hurt and that's just great news," said Higgins.

According to Sgt. Richard Harper with the Georgia State Patrol, the wreck happened on East Hall Road between Joe Chandler Road and England Road around 8:00 a.m.

Early reports indicate 22 East Hall High school students were on the bus at the time of the accident. Fifteen of the students and bus driver Doug McClure were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries, according to the school system. The other seven students were evaluated at the scene and were able to attend class at East Hall High School.

Jewel Armour, the Executive Director of Transportation for the Hall County School System, said at this time it appears McClure had some sort of medical episode and lost control of the bus. Sgt. Harper also said that students told troopers that McClure began coughing before the accident happened. The exact nature of the driver's illness is not yet known.

East Hall High Principal Jeff Cooper said McClure was very shaken by the accident and was most concerned about the welfare of the students. McClure has been driving school buses in the East Hall district since 2008. He has an excellent driving record with no accidents, according to Armour.

Officials continue their investigation of the accident.