Drivers Should Be Cautions As Buses Return To Oklahoma Roads

School leaders and law enforcement personnel hope an accident involving a school bus in Morris in Okmulgee County reinforces how important it is for drivers to be cautious, especially as students head back to school in districts all over our area.

Just three days into the new school year in Morris, a school bus was making a left hand turn off Highway 62 onto a county road Monday morning, when it was rear ended by a car.

8/11/2014 Related Story: Eight Injured In Wreck Involving Morris School Bus

Morris Superintendent, James Lyons said, "You never really know what you're going to come up on."

Of the 20 elementary, middle and high school students on the bus, eight had only minor injuries. The students were evaluated by paramedics, taken to the school campus in another bus, and their parents were notified.

Lyons is thankful no one was seriously hurt.

"Today we have 100 percent of those students in school, rather than addressing other issues that can occur because of an accident,” he said.

Lyons said a school emergency response plan the district has spent 500 hours working on over the past two years, worked well in this case, but he hopes accidents with buses can be avoided altogether.

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the car's driver was following too closely.

Lyons said, just like students, drivers have to get back into the routine of school being in session, especially since buses haven't been on routes for nearly three months.

"You don't get second chances on situations like this, so if everyone will drive in a safe manner and be on the lookout for not only school buses, but kids in crossing walks,” Lyons said.

The wreck isn't a good way to start the school year, but the accident could have been worse.

With more schools starting soon, and the number of buses on the road, it only increases the potential for danger.

Skiatook and Muskogee start Wednesday, Collinsville and Owasso head back Thursday and Union Public Schools and most Tulsa Public Schools classes start next week.