Church bus accident

[Question]

Does anyone know anything about the church bus accident on Sulphur Springs Rd near Roe Junction Rd? It looked bad. I hope no one was hurt real bad or worse??

[Morristown Woman]

13 Kids were on the bus. It was the bus of New Hope church in White Pine. All had to be cut out and only 7 had to be flown by lifestar to UT. One boy lost all his teeth anothers left side of his face was smashed in. This is all I know. My cousin lives near where it happened. It was pretty bad and real bloody. Everyone just needs to keep this poor kids in their prayers.

[Morristown Woman]

If you want to know more then go to www.citizentribune.com

[Local Yocal]

How sad. Poor kids. I hope they all make it thru, and have a speedy recovery. I haven't heard anything as to the cause of the accident but could be b/c of the condition of the road there. Its all tore up from the utility work, been that way for awhile. Busted my tire near there a few weeks ago.

[Morristown Woman]

The THP thinks it's speed.

[Know2Kids]

I know two of the kids that were on the bus. One is at U.T. with a broken leg, the other is at Morristown Hamblen and haven't heard the condition, but getting ready to go there and check. The one parent that I talked to said her kid told her that the van driver was speeding around 70 mph and jumped off the road. This is truly sad, however I have not heard of any life threating injuries sustained at this time, that is something to be thankful for.

[Jason]

dumb a$$ rednecks should learn how to drive

[Babydoll_1]

when did this happen?? i live off roe junction.

[FromCitizenTribu ne]

A church van loaded with passengers drove through the intersection of Sulphur Springs and Roe Junction roads Sunday afternoon in Morristown, smashing into a 12-foot high earthen embankment.

The van, driven by Cecil Garrett, of Morristown, belongs to New Vision Ministries of White Pine. The accident happened shortly before 1 p.m. Sunday.

The majority of passengers were children of varying ages.

Most of the injured were taken to Morristown Hamblen Hospital System. Hospital officials declared a disaster code because of the number of injuries, pulling in extra personnel. Hospital spokesperson Pam Snyder said a sufficient number of beds and medical personal were ready when the injured arrived.

MHHS admitted a total of 12 patients according to Snyder. Of those, 11 have been released. The remaning patient, Garrett, is in stable condition.

Snyder said that two patients had been flown via LifeStar to other facilities, probably the University of Tennessee Medical Center.

Co-pastor Tony L. Collins thanked the community for its support and asked fro continued prayers.

"We at New Vision are a very close knit church family," he said. "We ask for your continued prayers for the swift recovery of all involved. Thank you for your concern and prayers thus far."

The Tennessee Highway Patrol investigated the accident in which Garrett appeared to drive through the T-intersection without significantly slowing.

Roe Junction rises up to cross railroad tracks about 20 feet before it T’s into Sulphur Springs. Sulphur Springs curves around a hill at the intersection and directly across the road from Roe Junction is essentially an earthen wall. The van struck the wall more or less head on. The THP investigator on the scene said he believed speed may have been a factor in the accident and noted there were no signs the van was able to slow down before impact.

The front of the van was demolished.

Co-pastor Cindy Collins also expressed her appreciation to the community.

"We appreciate all the calls and concerns. Please keep our church and all the families in your prayers," she said. "Through everything God is always in control and we lean on his mighty hands."

More information will published on www.citizentribune.com if it becomes available. Also see Monday's edition of the Citizen Tribune for more on the crash.

[jason]

well done to all rescue personel , and to south hamblen vfd ! we should be very thankful and respectful to all volunteers ... whether its north , south , east , or west ...today shows how they are needed . i seen many personal vehicles with lights today and im glad they can do that , and you can bet your butt i got outta the way for them

[fireman]

thanks jason

[Pissed off citizen]

Morristown Woman wrote:

The THP thinks it's speed.

and everyone thinks pain pills is the big problem hee. Folks we got to get ahold of this drug epidemic and we better do it soon too.

[cc answers]

Pissed off citizen wrote:

<quoted text>
and everyone thinks pain pills is the big problem hee. Folks we got to get ahold of this drug epidemic and we better do it soon too.

I believe they were refering to the rate of speed the bus was traveling.

[Speed]

The driver must have thought the road went straight ahead. He had to be going fast. He must have never been on the road before. The roads are tore up and gravel in them,I don't know if that caused a problem or not.

[Rodger Dodger]

I've driven on that road on the way to Jacks place a whole lot. I don't see it as a raod to be going very fast on.
Sounds like the driver might have not been driving very responsibly. Not that all of us aren't guilty of that much too much....but he had a lot of precious cargo there.

[Just Me]

Pissed off citizen wrote:

<quoted text>
and everyone thinks pain pills is the big problem hee. Folks we got to get ahold of this drug epidemic and we better do it soon too.

No Cecil does not take drugs. Quit starting rumors

[Fezz]

I hate that people are allowed to get on this website & start rumors and trash talk about anyone. Clearly this Mr. Cecil was a good person trying to live his life by the Lord by attending church and also trying to be a help by driving the church van. I don't know this man from Adam but I'm sure he felt responsible & very devestated by this whole thing. That's why its called an accident people. Stop bashing people. I hope the people involved were ok especially the driver Mr. Cecil sine he sustained the full impact in the front.

[lol]

Good ole god hard at work lol