GREENSBORO, N.C. — A routine ride home turned frightening for 20 students on Monday afternoon when their school bus overturned on a rural road in Durham County, prompting a multi-agency emergency response and renewed concerns about a dangerous stretch of roadway.
Bus From Mangum Elementary Overturns at Dangerous Curve
According to new photos obtained by CBS 17, the bus—transporting students from Mangum Elementary School—crashed near the intersection of Johnson Mill Road and Patrick Road, a curve that neighbors say has caused multiple accidents over the years.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol reported that the bus driver ran off the road while navigating the curve and over-corrected, causing the bus to overturn and strike a tree. The driver has been cited for failure to maintain lane control.
10 Students and Driver Taken to Hospitals With Minor Injuries
Ten students and the bus driver were transported to three local hospitals as a precaution. By Tuesday, Durham Public Schools confirmed that all individuals were released the same day with minor injuries.
Counselors were on-site at Mangum Elementary to support students involved in the accident, which also damaged a road sign during the impact.
Neighbors Helped Pull Students From Overturned Bus
Witnesses described a chaotic but heroic scene as neighbors rushed to the overturned bus to help free trapped children.
“It was scary. We were very scared for the kids,” neighbor Laura Hare told CBS 17. Another parent reported that her daughter is wearing an arm sling following the crash.
Residents say the curve where the accident occurred has been problematic for years.
Community Calls for Road Safety Improvements
Following the crash, several neighbors voiced frustration about the lack of safety measures along Johnson Mill Road. Some are requesting:
- Flashing warning lights
- Rumble strips
- Better signage
“The curve is dangerous, period,” Hare said. “And it’s taken a school bus. Somebody has got to do something about that curve.”
Durham Public Schools Outlines Driver Training Protocols
In a statement, Durham Public Schools emphasized its safety requirements for bus drivers, noting that all drivers undergo:
- Background and driving record checks
- Four days of CDL endorsement classroom training
- Four days of behind-the-wheel training with a DOT-certified instructor
- Mandatory DOT recertification every three years
- Annual professional development sessions
The district also noted it is performing its own internal investigation, separate from law enforcement’s review.
The name of the bus driver has not yet been released.
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