Children OK, but car passengers injured

By DUANE SHERRILL / Staff Reporter for the Southern Standard

Rescue crews pull Cheryl Smith from the wreckage of her family’s car after it collided with a school bus on Shellsford Road Tuesday afternoon. Smith and her husband, Scott Smith, were critically injured. (Duane Sherrill photo)

Two people were critically injured while seven passengers on a school bus all escaped injury Tuesday afternoon when a special education bus collided with a car on Shellsford Road.

Critically injured were Scott Smith, 27, and Cheryl Smith, 29. They were both airlifted by LifeForce helicopter from the scene and flown to Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. Their 4-year-old son was uninjured.

According to Highway Patrolman Gary Myers, the accident happened around 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of Shellsford and Leesburg Road.

The intersection, which is near a blind hill, has been the site of numerous serious accidents in the past. Myers said this accident was no different, noting the blind hill heavily contributed to the wreck.

A preliminary investigation revealed the bus driver, Leslie Moore, 60, stopped at a stop sign at the end of Leesburg Road and began turning onto Shellsford Road. The bus driver, who had seven students on board SE-14, said the coast was clear as he began his turn. However, as he pulled onto Shellsford Road, the 1989 Mazda driven by Mr. Smith topped the blind hill.

Skid marks leading up to the point of impact revealed Smith tried to avoid the bus by swerving into the oncoming lane. However, he was unable to avoid impact, striking head-on into the bus’ front driver’s side. The Smith vehicle was virtually destroyed, sustaining massive front-end damage, causing the critical injuries to both front-seat passengers. The bus sustained minimal damage, losing only its front bumper.

Students on the wrecked bus were loaded onto another bus and taken to their homes as lawmen continued investigating the wreck. One parent came to the scene to pick up her child.