It was supposed to be a quick trip to a North Carolina casino, one a Marietta-based tour company makes several times a month. But Thursday morning, the trip came to a tragic end before the bus carrying 48 people made it out of Georgia.
The Greatime Getaways bus had traveled to Gilmer County — about 70 miles northwest of Marietta — when it slammed into the back of a tractor-trailer that was attempting to turn, according to investigators. The bus driver was killed and 43 passengers were injured in the crash, which happened on Ga. 515 at the intersection of Whitestone Road. Most of those on the bus were senior adults.
“Oh goodness, it was just like, whoa,” witness Angela Newberry told Channel 2 Action News. “It’s just heartbreaking. It’s really heartbreaking to see that.”
»» PHOTOS: Scene of the tour bus-truck crash in Gilmer County, Ga.
Investigators believe a tractor-trailer was traveling westbound on Whitestone Road and stopped while attempting to make a left turn onto Ga. 515, according to the Georgia State Patrol. While the driver waited to turn, his trailer was stopped in the northbound lane of Ga. 515. As the bus drove north, the front of it struck the rear of the tractor-trailer, the GSP said.
Though the tractor-trailer’s driver appeared to be at fault, no charges were filed Thursday. The truck driver’s name was not released, and he declined to speak to a Channel 2 Action News reporter. He was not injured.
Within minutes of the crash, multiple emergency responders were at the intersection, where a triage was set up. Bus windows had to be cut to remove some of the passengers, witnesses said.
“Everyone’s adrenaline is up when you get to a scene of this magnitude, but thankfully these folks are seasoned and they got to work right away with what they needed to do,” Gilmer County Public Safety Director Tony Pritchard said.
Those injured were assessed at the scene before being taken to various hospitals, including Piedmont Mountainside in Jasper and other hospitals in nearby counties. One person was taken to WellStar Kennestone hospital. Those taken to hospitals were believed to have non-life-threatening injuries, the state patrol said.
Greatime Getaways, owned by Rick and Barbara Rees, has transported thousands of guests over the last 18 years, according to the company's website.
“Our beautiful VanHool T-840 motor coach is ‘state of the art,’” the website states. “It is equipped with individual reclining seats, reading lights, air vents, a restroom, and video monitors. With air suspension and a 400-hp Cummings M-11 diesel motor you will enjoy a smooth and comfortable ride.”
A message left at the business late Thursday was not returned.
Federal records on Greatime Getaways showed no previous driving violations. But six maintenance violations were documented in 2015 inspections, including one for “brake connections with leaks/constrictions.”
The tractor-trailer is owned by Polcon Tile and Terrazzo out of Charlotte, N.C., records showed. In January 2015, Polcon drivers were issued two unsafe driving violations: a lane restriction violation in South Carolina and failure to obey a traffic control device in Georgia. It was not known whether the driver involved in Thursday’s wreck had previously been cited.
The same Gilmer County intersection has been the site of previous wrecks because of low visibility in the area, investigators said.
“Anybody traveling in this area this time of year, we just urge you to take extreme caution, pay close attention,” Pritchard said.
The wreckage was cleared late Thursday and all lanes of travel re-opened. The crash remains under investigation.
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