50 treated in I-20 bus crashes, driver remains in hospital care

NEWTON COUNTY, Ga. — Channel 2 Action News spoke to students after six school buses and a passenger car were involved in a wreck Saturday on I-20 westbound in Newton County.

As many as 200 middle school students from Burke County buses were on their way to Six Flags when the chain reaction happened.

At mile marker 98, just west of the Georgia Highway 11 exit, traffic began slowing for a lane closure about a half mile ahead.  As the buses slowed, one bus struck the rear of another setting off a chain reaction crash.  The passenger car was the last vehicle in the line and struck the rear of the sixth bus.

"The right lane was closed and then a car, one of the buses slammed on the brakes and went over," sixth-grade student Tyler McGlohorn told Channel 2's Tony Thomas.  "We tried to dodge away from them and we couldn't."

Tyler said he was on the third bus involved in the wreck.

One bus driver, Georgia State Patrol identified as Angela Anthony, 44, of Midville, Ga., suffered serious injuries and was flown to Grady Memorial Hospital.

Authorities said 50 people were checked at area hospitals, including Newton Medical Center for complaints of injuries.

"Most of the injuries that have been seen here at the school are minor bumps and bruises, soreness,"  Newton County Sheriff's Office Lt. Tyrone Oliver said.

Emergency personnel from Newton and Morgan counties, the State Patrol and the cities of Covington and Social Circle responded, according to Oliver.  Morgan County sent several buses to the scene to help transport uninjured children.

Injured children have since been released from the hospitals as the bus driver  remains in Grady with non-life threatening injuries, authorities said.

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WSBTV