Lafayette County school bus rear-ended on Highway 6, no students injured

Feb. 1—The Pontotoc County man driving the pickup was transported to the North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo with moderate injuries.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Troop E spokesman Sgt. Marvin Baird said troopers responded to the crash on the four-lane highway at 6:23 a.m. Feb. 1. The preliminary investigation showed a 2014 International school bus was headed east when it was struck from behind by a 2004 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Brandon M. Higgason, 25, of Ecru.

Lafayette County Superintendent of Education Jay Foster said he was notified of the wreck around 6:40 a.m. by his transportation director. Besides the bus driver, there were four passengers on the bus, all children. EMTs examined all five passengers at the scene of the accident, and none of them appear to be injured.

All four kids were quickly put in their parents' hands following the accident, Foster said.

Foster said the school bus was minimally damaged. The bus driver, Christopher L. Alexander, 44, of Oxford, drove the bus himself back to the school district's bus shop where the damages will be assessed before the bus is allowed to carry students.

Foster put out a statement to parents following the accident, informing them that an accident had occurred and that all students and staff were accounted for.

"We're just grateful nobody was hurt, and we'll continue to pray for all those involved," Foster told the Daily Journal.

The wreck tied up traffic along the busy corridor for more than an hour. Law enforcement was forced to detour traffic around the crash scene.

This crash remains under investigation by the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

The Daily Journal's William Moore contributed to this report.

Addie covers education and general news for the Daily Journal. Contact her at addie.davis@journalinc.com.