The Haralson County School system is “thankful” a student is doing well after being struck by a vehicle last Thursday while getting of a school bus. The driver of the vehicle had initially rear-ended the bus as a result of “following too closely,” according to a report by the Georgia State Patrol.

Post Commander 29 Sergeant First Class Wade Chaffin said the bus was traveling northbound on Highway 27, where it had stopped between Hamil Road and McWhorter Road to drop off children when Claud Andrew Isaacs of Buchanan struck the right, rear-end corner of the bus. Chaffin said Isaacs continued traveling along the right side of the bus, where the child was struck while getting off of the bus.

“He (Isaacs) continued to a final rest after striking the child at a yard of a residence,” Chaffin said. “The child was taken by Emory flight to Scottish Rite [Hospital] in Atlanta.”

Chaffin said the driver, who is elderly, was listed as in “serious” condition according to the responding trooper’s observation on the scene. He was transported to Atlanta Medical Center.

“We don’t know if it was anything pre-existing that caused him to strike the bus,” Chaffin noted. “According to the report, he was charged with following too closely.”

Meanwhile, Haralson County School Public Information Officer Kersha Cartwright said the injured student might have received some bumps and bruises from the accident, and was released from the hospital Thursday night. She said the students who were on board the bus were slightly shaken up by the incident, but the system is grateful that no other injuries were sustained due to the accident.

“We’re grateful that the injuries weren’t any worse,” she said. “The passengers and bus driver were transported from the scene by another bus and taken to Buchanan Primary School where parents were notified to pick them up,” she said.

She added that everyone was safely removed from the scene of the accident, which happened just before the school bus safety training that was held this week at Haralson County Middle School. Cartwright said the annual training kicks off this time of year, consisting of evacuation drills, question and answer segments, videos and demonstrations that prepare students and bus drivers on how to respond in emergencies that could happen while riding the school bus.

“We also just did a school bus safety contest for the primary and elementary school students. Participants drew pictures of the bus guidelines they learned and illustrated people following rules. Bus drivers also do training, which includes a video and rules of riding the bus. We also line up students outside to show them how to get on and off of the bus. There’s a lot of practical training as well,” Cartwright added. “Students are well-prepared for school bus safety.”