3 injured in Opp bus crash

3 injured in Opp bus crash
Car’s driver, 2 elementary school students sent to Mizell
By Stephanie Nelson (Contact)| Andalusia Star-News

Published Thursday, October 1, 2009

A car struck an Opp school bus Thursday, sending two bus passengers and the car’s driver to Mizell Memorial Hospital.

Opp’s assistant police chief Mike McDonald said the accident occurred shortly after 3 p.m.

“The school bus had just left Opp Elementary and was southbound on North Main Street and going to turn eastbound on Jeffcoat Avenue,” McDonald said.“And at the time of the turn, it was struck by a car.”

McDonald said the car did not go underneath the bus; instead, it struck the right side of the bus, in front of the rear tires.

The female driver of the vehicle, whose identity was not immediately released, was entrapped in the vehicle. Emergency personnel had to remove her using the “Jaws of Life.” She was transported to Mizell Memorial Hospital with injuries McDonald described as “severe.”

All the school bus passengers were evacuated, he said.

“The two children who were injured were transported to Mizell Memorial Hospital with what did not appear to be life threatening injuries,” he said.

The determining factors of the accident are still under investigation, he said. No other information was released.

I can not understand why there is not a red light there at the hospital, what is going on. Lets wait til someone is killed there and then maybe someone might think "hey we need a red light there". What are these people thinking that is in charge of the safety of the roads. That is like the new school, I think we would have been better off to let the kids build the school's parking lot. That is an accident waiting to happen. I know of a friend that goes up there over an hour before she has to pick up her kids just so she will not be stuck in the traffic. What were they thinking..... and why are they not trying to change it and get a light there at the entrance with one at the hospital. Plus change the speed signs and start pulling these cars over in the mornings and afternoons that can not seem to slow down. Our kids are not safe. I was cut off this morning by two different cars that were college students headed to the college and there was a cop just two cars behind me. I know he seen them both but did nothing, but I guess when lives are taken then they might do something.