By Joel Provano
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — Six people, including four students, were injured Tuesday morning when a school bus collided with a tractor-trailer in Cherokee County, authorities said.
The wreck occurred at Hightower Road and Lovelace Lane near Canton about 7:50 a.m. Six students were on the bus, and four students — two boys ages 10 and 12, and two girls ages 5 and 8 — suffered minor injuries, said Tim Cavender, spokesman for Cherokee Fire and Emergency Services. The students were transported to Northside Cherokee Hospital.
The truck ran off the road and down a steep embankment after the collision. The 43-year-old truck driver was trapped in the wreckage and was extricated by emergency personnel. He was conscious and alert when he was rescued, Cavender said.
The driver of the bus, identified as 52-year-old Lisa Spince, complained of neck pain. Both drivers were transported to North Fulton Hospital.
“It could have been much worse,” Lt. Jay Baker with the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office said.
Georgia State Patrol trooper Travis Roberts said the school bus was traveling east on Hightower and turned left in front of the westbound truck. The bus was en route to Free Home Elementary School.
Cherokee County Schools spokesman Mike McGowan said Spince was a substitute driver who has been with the district since November.
Spince had all the necessary training and certification to drive a school bus, according to McGowan. He said the State Patrol was handling the investigation and that the district would do its “due diligence” in the incident once more information was released by the GSP.
Tuesday was the first day of school after winter break for students in Cherokee and most other metro Atlanta school systems.
AJC staffers Scott Peacocke, Jaime Sarrio and Bob Andres contributed to this article.
Copyright 2011 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution