The usual morning rush at Brumby Elementary School in East Cobb turned into a scene of chaos on Wednesday when a vehicle driven by a 13-year-old suddenly lurched forward in the drop-off lane and struck a woman. Two young children were inside the minivan at the time, and the vehicle later reversed into a parked car. The woman was seriously injured and rushed to a hospital, and Cobb County police say the crash remains under investigation.
What Police Say
According to 95.5 WSB, Cobb County officers said the vehicle was stopped in the school’s drop-off lane when it "suddenly accelerated" and hit a 35-year-old woman. The station reported that two children, a 4-year-old boy and a 6-month-old girl, were in the vehicle at the time. The woman’s identity and current condition have not been released. Police told the station the car then reversed and collided with a parked vehicle.
At the Scene and School Response
Local reporting from East Cobb News says Sgt. Eric Smith identified the vehicle as a 2017 gray Chrysler Pacifica and said the crash happened around 8 a.m. The Cobb County School District told East Cobb News the pedestrian was "tragically struck by their own vehicle" and said first responders arrived quickly, while classes continued on a normal schedule.
East Cobb News also reported that the Chrysler reversed in the drop-off lane and struck an unoccupied, parked Chevrolet Equinox. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Cobb Police at 770-499-3987.
Legal Context and Safety Takeaways
Under Georgia’s graduated licensing rules, teens may apply for an instructional permit beginning at age 15, so a 13-year-old cannot lawfully hold even a learner permit, according to the Georgia Department of Driver Services drivers manual.
Crashes in drop-off and parking areas, often described as "frontovers" or "backovers" depending on direction, are a documented hazard near schools and in driveways, the nonprofit Kids and Car Safety notes. Safety advocates and school officials generally urge adult supervision in drop-off lanes, a quick walk-around before moving a vehicle, and strict adherence to school drop-off procedures to reduce risk.
Investigation
Cobb police said their STEP Unit has been activated to handle the probe and that officials have not announced any charges, East Cobb News reported. 95.5 WSB also noted the investigation remains ongoing as detectives interview witnesses and process the scene. Authorities have not released the injured woman’s name or her current condition.
