Traffic charges expected for father in school bus crash

A driver involved in a Wednesday morning head-on crash with a Hall County school bus will face charges of failure to maintain lane and slick tires, officials said.

Lonnie Anderson, 33, of Dawsonville, is still hospitalized following the crash that killed his 13-year-old daughter, Summer Anderson, and seriously injured his son, 12-year-old Zachary Anderson.

Sgt. A.J. Allen with the Georgia State Patrol told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Thursday that Anderson is expected to be charged once his condition improves.

Zachary Anderson is out of surgery and is recovering at Northeast Georgia Medical Center, but his father is not out of the woods, a family member said in a GoFundMe update. Smith said the father has a broken shoulder and shattered pelvis.

“Lonnie is still fighting his fight at the hospital, but is expected to make a recovery,” said Mike Smith, who identified himself as an uncle.

Lonnie Anderson was driving a 1995 Ford Mustang when it hit standing water on Ga. 60 North near Rufus Bryant Road and hydroplaned, according to the GSP. At that point, it crossed the center line and struck the school bus head-on. The Mustang then rotated and hit the bus again on its left side.

Summer Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene. She was a student at Dawson County Middle, according to the school system.

The bus was transporting 19 Mount Vernon Elementary School students. The students and the bus driver, 65-year-old Barbara Flowers, have since been released from the hospital with no major injuries reported.

The Hall County School District released a statement regarding the incident: “We also want to offer our sincere sympathy and condolences to the Anderson family of Dawson County who lost a child in the accident and want them to know that our thoughts and prayers are with them.”