5-year-old dead after speeding school bus crashes in Liberty County, Georgia.
Based on the evidence collected, the bus was speeding and failed to negotiate the curve on Ray Road, hitting the tree.
By Ian Dembling, WTGS
Tuesday, December 5th 2017
Liberty County, Ga (WTGS) — A 5-year-old girl is dead and 22 others were hurt after a school bus crashed into a tree in Liberty County, according to Lt. Thornell King with the Georgia State Patrol.
Cambria Shuman has been identified as the child killed in the crash, according to Georgia State Patrol.
The wreck happened around 7 a.m. off of Highway 196 on Ray Road, about 5 miles outside of Glennville.
King said there were 23 people inside the bus when it left the roadway and crashed into a tree.
The driver, a 62-year-old, was taken to the hospital, as were all the other children, according to King. He said the other injuries to the children are not expected to be serious. He did not go into details about the injuries to the driver.
When troopers arrived just before 7 a.m. there was a lot of fog in the area, but King said he cannot say it that contributed to the crash.
The bus reportedly ran off the road and along a ditch for some time before it hit a large tree, according to King.
He said the bus was equipped with surveillance cameras which will be analyzed to figure out the cause of the crash. The bus itself is not believed to have malfunctioned.
"We don't know why all of the sudden the bus left the roadway," King said. However, based on the evidence collected, the bus was speeding and failed to negotiate the curve on Ray Road, hitting the tree.
He said the bus was not equipped with seat belts and he does not think those would have prevented the death or injuries. Of course this is his own opinion and he should have kept it to himself.
The Liberty County School System issued a release about the crash, saying their thoughts and prayers are with the student’s family and that grief counselors have been made available to all students and staff.
The Brundage family who live across the street from Cambria's family say they are heartbroken. Other neighbors say the kids in the neighborhood are all close. Cambria was affectionately called "Cam-Cam". The families are working to set up food deliveries and monetary donations for the Shuman family, which they say will bring the community closer. However they wish it weren't the case.
"This is a terrible way to have a bond, this is a terrible way," said Elaine "I don't know how the children are going to react on this street."
Neighbors say Cambria is survived by her parents, grandparents, a stepfather, and two siblings. The youngest was just one year old.
A GoFundMe account has been created to help the family with expenses.
Based on the evidence collected, the bus was speeding and failed to negotiate the curve on Ray Road, hitting the tree.