Just before 9 a.m. Friday, a driver hit a DeKalb County school bus, then took off, leaving the damaged bus on the road and police searching for whoever was behind the wheel. Two Bethune Middle School students were on board at the time. According to the DeKalb County School District, neither student nor the bus driver was hurt, although the bus did sustain damage.
The district said in a statement that it was thankful the outcome was not worse, noting, "We are grateful that the driver and the two students from Bethune Middle School on board were not injured," as reported by WSB-TV. Police continue to look for the driver who left the scene.
Recent DeKalb crashes shine a light on bus safety
This is not the first serious school bus incident in DeKalb this year. In March, a vehicle ran a red light and struck a DeKalb County school bus, sending the driver and four students to the hospital, according to CBS Atlanta. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that the bus went up an embankment and that the at-fault driver in that crash was cited.
Legal consequences for fleeing drivers
Georgia law requires drivers involved in a collision to stop, remain at or return to the scene, and exchange information. Leaving without doing so can trigger hit-and-run charges under O.C.G.A. §40-6-270, which treats it as a criminal offense depending on whether anyone is injured, per the state code. State statutes and the DeKalb County School District also remind drivers that passing a stopped school bus displaying flashing red lights and an extended stop arm violates O.C.G.A. §40-6-163 and can bring steep fines and license points, according to the district's transportation guidance (DeKalb County School District).
What investigators are asking
Authorities have not released a description of the vehicle or any suspect information. Anyone who was in the area and has dash-cam footage, phone video, or other details that might help is urged to contact investigators, according to WSB-TV. The DeKalb County School District said it is working with police and communicating with families while the search for the driver continues.
Officials emphasize that drivers who share the road with school buses should leave extra space, stay alert, and always obey stop arms and flashing red lights. The district and state law both stress that stopping for school buses is not just a good habit but a legal requirement intended to keep students safe.
