CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn. (WZTV) — On Friday, March 27, a school bus crash involving a dump truck and a Chevrolet Trailblazer resulted in the deaths of two students and injuries to over 20 others.
According to the Tennessee Highway Patrol, a Clarksville-Montgomery County School System bus carrying 29 people, including 24 students from Kenwood Middle School, was traveling to Jackson, Tennessee for a field trip when the incident occurred near the intersection of Highway 70 and Cedar Grove.
Authorities confirmed the fatalities of 14-year-old Zoe and 14-year-old Arianna. More than 20 individuals were transported to area hospitals, with at least one student reported to have multiple broken bones. Witnesses stated that the bus crossed over the double yellow line before colliding with the TDOT truck, which subsequently caught fire.
Investigators from the Tennessee Highway Patrol and the National Transportation Safety Board are examining the crash, focusing on driver performance and safety oversight. No confirmed details on the cause of the crash have been released. A family member of the bus driver, identified as Sabrina R. Ducksworth, suggested she may have experienced a medical emergency, but this remains unverified.
In response to the incident, Tennessee Senator Mark Pody proposed legislation to mandate seatbelts and other safety measures on school buses, aiming to address longstanding safety concerns.
Counseling and support services are being provided at Kenwood Middle School for students and staff as the community mourns the loss. Flags across Montgomery County and Clarksville have been lowered to half-staff in memory of the deceased students.