October 10, 1972

School Bus in accident

       A Center Grove School Corporation bus and two cars were involved in a traffic accident at the intersection of two Johnson County roads shortly after the bus delivered students to the Center Grove High School Tuesday morning. Johnson County sheriff’s authorities said no one was seriously injured in the mishap, which occurred about 7:30 a.m. on Morgantown Road at Olive Branch road, north of the high school. The bus was being driven by Ralph Demaree, 60, of Greenwood route six. Also involved in the accident, were a 1965 Chevrolet driven by Russell E. Surface, 17, Greenwood route four, and a 1962 Chevrolet driven by Gregory W. Elkins, 16, Greenwood rural route five. Sheriff’s Deputy Bill Bradley said Donna Hibbard, 16, sustained a bump on the head in the accident, but was not seriously hurt. Peggy Hibbard, 12, also a passenger in the Surface auto. Jeanice Gartin, 16, Greenwood route five, was a passenger in the Elkins car. The two teenage drivers and their passengers were reportedly going to school when the accident occurred. According to Officer Bradley two autos (not identified) were in front of the school bus which was northbound on Morgantown Road. One of the two cars was signaling a left turn onto Olive Branch Road. Bradley said Demaree, the bus driver, didn’t see the brake light’s on the car preparing to turn and applied his brakes to the bus. The bus slid of the roadway. The cars driven by Surface and Elkins, southbound on Morgantown Road, then struck the bus and traveled off the west side of the road down a slight embankment.  (Reprinted with permission of the Daily Journal)
 

   
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