CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — Federal investigators are probing a fatal multi-vehicle crash involving a school bus that occurred around 11:35 a.m. on March 27 along U.S. Highway 70.
According to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System bus was westbound, carrying one driver, four adult chaperones, and 24 students from Kenwood Middle School to an event in Jackson. Simultaneously, a dump truck operated by the Tennessee Department of Transportation and an SUV were traveling eastbound.
The NTSB reported the bus crossed the centerline, sideswiping the dump truck and colliding with the SUV before exiting the roadway and rolling down an embankment. Two students were killed in the incident, and the bus driver and several passengers sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious. The two occupants in the dump truck suffered serious injuries, while the SUV occupants were unharmed.
Authorities confirmed clear weather conditions and a dry roadway at the time of the crash on the two-lane highway, which has a posted speed limit of 55 mph.
Investigators have identified the bus driver as Sabrina Ducksworth. Records revealed she had prior medical issues and was on approved leave but maintained valid certification to operate a commercial vehicle. Ducksworth had a clean disciplinary record and received favorable performance reviews over several years.
The NTSB stated that its findings are preliminary and under review, as it collaborates with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the Tennessee Highway Patrol to determine the cause of the crash and recommend safety measures. Investigators are assessing factors such as driver performance, medical fitness, and passenger safety.