UPDATE: Fatal school bus accident

GAINESVILLE, Ga. – A rain-soaked highway and a hydroplaning vehicle that slammed into a Hall County school bus Wednesday caused the death of a 13-year-old Dawsonville girl and serious injuries to her father and young brother.

That is the assessment of Sgt. Auston Allen of the Georgia State Patrol who investigated the incident.

A 1995 Ford Mustang driven by 33-year-old Lonnie Anderson, of Dawsonville, was traveling south on Thompson Bridge Road near Rufus Bryant Road when it hit standing water on the roadway, rotated counter-clockwise and struck the left side of the bus with the Mustang’s right side.

Lonnie Anderson and 12-year-old Zachary Anderson were seriously injured and 13-year-old Summer Anderson was killed. All three are from Dawsonville. Summer Anderson was a student at Dawson County Middle School. Zachary Anderson is a student at Kilough Elementary School.

Lonnie Anderson was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center (NGMC). Zachary Anderson was transported to Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Allen said the 19 students on the school bus reported various injuries and were transported to NGMC for evaluation.

Charges are pending against Lonnie Anderson, “based upon the seriousness of his medical condition,” Allen said.

Dawson County School Superintendent Dr. Damon Gibbs expressed his sympathy to the Anderson family and friends and added that members of the school system’s Crisis Response Team are available to meet with students individually and in groups.

 

 

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