Lancaster County school bus driver hurt in Indian Land, SC, crash, officials say

A Lancaster County school bus driver was hurt Wednesday night in a crash in the Indian Land area, officials said.

No children were on the bus at the time, officials said.

The driver, Judith “Judy” Carter, 65, was alone on the bus when the incident happened before 6 p.m. on Harrisburg Road, according to the S.C. Highway Patrol and a statement posted on school district social media by Bryan Vaughan, director of Safety and Transportation for the Lancaster County School District.

The area is near the intersection of S.C. 160 and U.S 521, south of the Ballantyne area of Charlotte and east of the York County line and the town of Fort Mill.

Carter was taken to a hospital with injuries, Vaughn said in the statement. Her condition was unavailable. Carter was described by Vaughan as a well-known, longtime driver with the school district.

Two other vehicles were involved in the collision, said Darren Player, Lancaster County Emergency Management Director. Pleasant Valley Fire Department firefighters went to the scene, Player said.

The S.C. Highway Patrol is investigating the wreck.

Master Trooper Gary Miller of the highway patrol said the bus was heading south on Harrisburg Road when it was struck by a car traveling north. The school bus was then struck in the back by a third car before the bus went off the road and hit several trees, Miller said.

The driver of the vehicle that hit the bus first had what were described as minor injuries, Miller said. A juvenile passenger in that car was not hurt. Troopers cited the driver of the car that hit the bus first with traveling left of center, Miller said.

The driver of the third vehicle was not hurt, Miller said.