CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, S.C. — Parents are calling for changes in Chesterfield County after a school bus overturned Friday, leaving at least eight children hurt.
“People could have died and I’m glad that no one did,” said 12-year-old Mahailey Jordan.
Most of the children are now back home recovering, like Mahailey. She and two of her little sisters were on the bus, which overturned on McCaskill Road.
“I fell and I hit the window and then my sister fell on top of me. So I kind of braced her fall from getting hurt really bad,” she said.
At least eight children on the bus, including Mahailey, were rushed to a hospital. Seven-year-old Christopher Bloomfield was also one of them. His mother said the doctor recommended a CT scan after Christopher complained about head pain.
“He told me that he had a little concussion,” Mareika Blakeney said.
Parents and Mahailey believe the bus driver may have been going too fast down the dirt road that was muddy from the rain.
“I think it was going a little bit faster than it should have been going on a dirt road, because it was slippery,” Mahailey said. “When I got out, it was muddy everywhere. People were sliding once I got off the bus.”
District officials would not confirm that, but said they are conducting their own investigation.
In the meantime, county leaders said they covered the dirt road with gravel as a precaution and parents are hoping even more will be done in the near future.
“It would be better if they just pave the road, because it’s been plenty of days my kids complained to me about how fast the bus driver driving,” Blakeney said.
On Tuesday, South Carolina Highway Patrol said the bus driver was cited for driving too fast for the conditions. The bus driver is still employed, district officials said.
The state Department of Education said the bus passed a regular inspection in July.
(WATCH BELOW: At least 8 students injured after school bus flips in Chesterfield Co., officials say)
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