FLORENCE, Miss. — A Rankin County school bus driver suffered critical injuries in a collision with an 18-wheeler on Highway 49 near Eagle Post Road on Monday, October 2, at 6:43 a.m., according to Florence Police.
Emergency responders reported no students were on the bus at the time of the incident. Witnesses expressed shock at the crash, with local resident Terry Dyer commenting, “You'll never think that a school bus will be hit by an 18-wheeler.”
The bus driver, a 79-year-old man well-known in the community, was transported to a local hospital. Tamara Brock, a family friend, stated he is currently paralyzed from the neck down and suffers from internal bleeding.
Investigators indicated that the 18-wheeler may have experienced brake failure before the crash. Authorities have not yet released the driver's identity, and the cause of the incident remains under investigation.
Lane closures were reported following the accident as officials conducted their inquiry.