School bus in accident

By Tracy Agnew (Contact), | Suffolk News-HeraldAndrew Giermak (Contact) | Suffolk News-Herald

Originally published 10:43 p.m., September 28, 2009
Updated 03:36 p.m., September 29, 2009

The King’s Fork High School girls’ field hockey team canceled practice Tuesday and rescheduled a district game against Western Branch High School Wednesday after the team’s bus accident Monday night.

Varsity and junior varsity players were returning from a game at Woodside High School in Newport News Monday when the bus skidded into a ditch in the median on Route 17 in Isle of Wight County, schools spokeswoman Bethanne Bradshaw said. Eleven of the 20 players were treated and released at area emergency rooms. The most serious injury reported was a broken ankle. Seven students attended school Tuesday, while the rest stayed home to recuperate.

Randy Jessee, activities director at King’s Fork, said he met with the athletes who attended school Tuesday morning.

“Most of the ladies were pretty somber about what happened, and that was mostly about their teammates who were hurt and wondering how they were doing,” Jessee said.

Jessee said the athletes and parents will make their own decisions on when to compete again.

“It’ll be decided by each young lady on an athlete by athlete basis,” he said. “We certainly don’t want to put any pressure on anyone to participate again before they’re ready. We’re kind of leaving it in the hands of the athletes and their parents to decide what and when they want to do.”

The driver, who has been with Suffolk Public Schools for a year, was charged with failure to maintain her lane, Virginia State Police Sgt. Michelle Cotten said. Because the accident report had not yet been completed, Cotten did not know the cause of the accident, but said a witness driving behind the bus did not report the bus speeding.

The driver has been placed on administrative leave with pay pending the results of the mandatory drug and alcohol test. The driver does regular elementary and middle school runs in the morning and afternoon each day, and does occasional activity runs, Bradshaw said.

The bus, which was towed from the scene, will need about $8,000 worth of repairs before it can be put on the road again, Bradshaw said. An accident review board of division administrators is conducting its own investigation into the incident.

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