Oct. 24--BROSVILLE -- Eight students were transported to Danville regional Medical Center on Tuesday morning after the driver of a Ford Fusion rear-ended a stopped school bus on Martinsville Highway.
According to witnesses at the scene, Brandon Lee Ashworth, 28, of Lynchburg was weaving in and out of traffic before he hit the bus at about 7:50 a.m. Tuesday, said Virginia State Police Trooper William Davis.
Ashworth was charged with reckless driving and not having a valid operator's license, said Sgt. Bob Carpentieri of the Virginia State Police.
Davis said Ashworth was in the left-hand lane, went into the right lane, back to the left and came back into the right lane where the bus was stopped. Ashworth also was transported to DMRC with a head injury that was "bleeding pretty badly," Davis said. His injuries were non-life threatening.
"It was just a case of reckless driving," said Davis.
A total of 16 kids -- students at Tunstall Middle and High School -- were on the bus at the time of the crash. Eight were transported to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, according to police. The other students were checked at the scene and were transported to school.
Pittsylvania County School Superintendent James McDaniel said the remainder of the children would be evaluated again by a nurse waiting at the school.
McDaniel said in situations like this, the first and most important thing he and other staff members arriving on the scene can do is make sure the kids and bus driver are uninjured.
First, a list of the kids' names is obtained and their schools are notified. Once the schools are notified, McDaniel said, an official at the school notifies the parents.
"We try to make sure we're all on the scene as quickly as possible to provide assessment and support for the students and the driver of the bus," said McDaniel.
Copyright 2012 - Danville Register & Bee, Va.
