Friday, August 9, 2024–12:15 p.m.

-Georgia State Patrol-

A 21-year-old Rome resident is facing charges following a wreck involving a Rome City School bus in Polk County Thursday night.

According to the Georgia State Patrol:

At 10:50 pm, Troopers from Post 3 Cartersville responded to a two-vehicle crash on GA-101 at Doc Moates Road.

The crash investigation determined that a Nissan Versa was traveling south negotiating a slight curve on GA-101.

A Rome City school bus was traveling north negotiating a slight curve on GA-101. The driver of the Nissan failed to maintain her lane traveling into the northbound lane and causing the front of the Nissan to strike the driver-side rear wheel.

After impact, the Nissan began to rotate counterclockwise before traveling off the west shoulder of the roadway coming to an uncontrolled final stop.

After impact, the School Bus crossed the center line and traveled off the west shoulder of the roadway before overturning and striking a power pole coming to an uncontrolled final stop.

The driver of the Nissan was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol and was placed under arrest.

The driver is identified as Jeyonna Jariah Underwood, who has been charged with DUI, failure to maintain a lane, and endangering a child.

The Rome City School System has released the following statement:

Rome City Schools would like to give a big thank you to the many emergency responders, police, sheriff’s resource officers, paramedics, and more, who helped last night after the bus crash.

We would also like to give a special thank you to bus driver Nakita Strickland. Strickland’s fast thinking and safety-first mindset kept the crash from becoming far worse.

All students and staff admitted to the hospital were released Friday morning.

We appreciate everyone who reached out to offer their help and support.

Original story from the Polk Standard Journal

This story is possible because of a news-sharing agreement with the Rome News-Tribune. More information can be found at northwestgeorgianews.com

A return trip from a preseason football game turned scary Thursday night as a bus carrying Rome High School football players was involved in a wreck in Polk County.

The specifics of the wreck were still under investigation by the Georgia State Patrol early Friday morning, but the bus came to a rest on its side against a utility pole on the west side of the highway. Polk County Police reported five people were taken to the hospital.

The players were on their way back to Rome on Ga. 101 near Doc Moates Road and Old Rome Road around 10:40 p.m. after competing in a scrimmage at Rockmart High School when the wreck occurred.

Jim Alred with Rome City Schools said all of the students and school system employees on the bus were accounted for with “a few” of them being taken to the hospital by AdventHealth Redmond EMS. Alred did not know of any major injuries in the hours following the wreck.

Students who did not need medical treatment were put on another bus and continued on to Rome High School.

A total of 24 people were on the bus at the time of the wreck according to Polk County Fire and Rescue Chief Mike Hanuscin, 20 of them students.

According to Ryanna Morgan, who was following the bus, a small silver SUV was close behind the bus when she saw the bus begin to swerve before it lost control and rolled multiple times, coming to a rest on its side against a utility pole on the west side of the highway.

The silver vehicle was on the shoulder of the highway about 100 yards south of where the bus was with major damage to its front end. It was unknown if anyone in the vehicle was injured.

The utility pole broke near the top with the lower part leaning on the bus. Georgia Power crews arrived to secure the pole before the bus could be removed.

Crews also worked to disconnect and reroute a power line on the pole, causing nearly 600 customers to lose power during the process.

Polk County Fire and Rescue were joined by Rockmart Fire units and Rome-Floyd Fire units on the scene. An air ambulance was dispatched and on the way to the scene when officials on the ground canceled it once they assessed the extent of the injuries.

In a post on Facebook, Polk School District extended its thoughts and prayers to the Rome High School student-athletes and staff involved in the accident and asked the community to join them in sending well wishes to all involved.

Photo by Jeremy Stewart, Polk Standard Journal