MAY 29, 2015
TOCCOA, GA (FOX CAROLINA)
The Stephens County Sheriff's Office said 19 people were
injured in a church van crash on Highway 123 in Stephens County near Toccoa.
Deputies said 18 people were on board a church bus from
Loves and Hugs Christian Tabernacle in Conyers, GA, that was headed to a church
retreat at the Baptist Conference Center. They were all transported to area
hospitals.
Deputies said the driver of the car seriously injured and
was airlifted.
A Lincoln Town Car reportedly hit the church bus head-on in
a curve on Highway 123 at Easy Street.
Firefighters with the Toccoa Fire Department said the driver
of the Town Car had to extricated from the vehicle and was airlifted to the
hospital.
16 people from the church bus were taken to the hospital for
observation and two refused treatment, firefighters said.
Deputies at the scene said the passengers suffered mostly
cuts, scrapes, and possibly broken bones.
Charlotte Hill, the pastor of Love and Hugs Christian
Tabernacle, said all the bus passengers are expected to be okay.
Hill said many church members had been released from the
hospital while others were still being treated early Friday morning.
"I just thank god for putting his arms around us and
keeping us safe and sound," Hill said. "Bumps and bruises we can get
over but life we have to cherish."
The cause of the crash remains unknown.
Three state troopers were on the scene, along with deputies
from the Stephen's County Sheriff's Office and firefighters.
Source: http://www.foxcarolina.com