All safe after tree hits school bus

Dickenson County schools are reporting all safe but the vehicle after a large tree fell and struck a school bus transporting children to school early Tuesday morning.

Driver Benny Kennedy was traveling on Little Caney Road and had 12 students on board when a tree hit the bus as it was in motion, striking it several times, according to schools Superintendent Haydee Robinson. A large limb crashed on the driver's side, shattering the front windshield and the front of the bus.

There were no injuries to the children or to Kennedy, a bus driver with 42 years of experience.

A school nurse who lives near the accident site examined the children and the driver, Robinson said. "After it was determined that the children were safe, another bus transported the children to school," she said, adding that many parents were notified on site, while all of the other parents of the children on the bus were notified.

Law enforcement and the fire department also responded to the scene.

Robinson said schools Transportation Supervisor Burl Mooney related: "God's protection was with the children and the driver traveling on this bus today. It could have been so much worse."

Robinson said the bus is a total loss.

"We are so thankful that no student or Mr. Kennedy received any injuries today," she said.

Noting that it happens to be National Bus Safety Week, Robinson said Dickenson School Board already had planned to recognize all school bus drivers for their work at today's board meeting (Oct. 23) and "the exceptional job they do each day to safely transport our children safely to and from school!" Kennedy will attend.