Morehouse student still hospitalized after bus crash

By Mashaun D. Simon and Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

A Morehouse College student remained at Grady Memorial Hospital on Sunday night after being injured in a bus crash.

Hollis Towns, Special A bus carrying Morehouse College band members overturned on I-75 in Henry County on Saturday morning.

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Hollis Towns, Special An emergency worker talks with Morehouse students at the site of the wreck.

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Hollis Towns, Special A student stands next to an emergency vehicle.

Hollis Towns, Special The bus came to rest on its side off the roadway.

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More than a dozen members of the school's marching band were injured Saturday morning in a crash in Henry County. None of the injuries were life-threatening, said Capt. Jason Bolton, spokesman for the Henry County Police Department.

As of Sunday evening, only one band member remained hospitalized. His name and condition were not available.

One of three buses carrying the "House of Funk" Marching Band to Albany State for a football game skidded off  I-75 south near the I-675 merge. The bus flipped twice and came to a rest on its side, police said.

Forty-two students were on the bus.

The two most seriously injured students were taken to Grady. One was released, while the other was kept overnight for observation, according to a note posted on the college's website. Several students were treated at other hospitals and released.

It is unclear what caused the accident, but officials believe the bus skidded on the wet roadway and ended up on its side about 30 feet off the roadway.

The bus flipped a couple of times and came to rest on its side. As it flipped, another bus transporting Morehouse band members turned around, and occupants from the first bus began helping students from the second bus.

All lanes of I-75 south near Hudson Bridge Road were temporarily closed.

Morehouse College President Robert Franklin said Saturday "was a frightening day" for Morehouse.

"But thank God not a tragic day," he said, adding that counselors and the chaplain will be on campus as a resource to students as needed.

The campus also held a service for students and community members on Sunday evening.

The game went on as scheduled, with Morehouse falling 30-12 to Albany State.

Staff member George Mathis contributed to this report.