FLORENCE, Miss. — A Rankin County school bus driver died following a crash on May 16, 2026.
Authorities said 79-year-old Alex “Buddy” Cooper was involved in a collision between a school bus and a tractor-trailer around 6:43 a.m. on Highway 49 near Eagle Post Road. No students were on board the bus at the time of the incident.
Cooper's family confirmed his passing through social media, expressing gratitude for community support. They announced plans for a celebration of life and requested donations be made to The Little Lighthouse in lieu of flowers.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing.