Church bus glided one hundred thirty six feet on its roof in crash that killed youthful Alabama missionary
Gallery: Huntsville church bus crashes in Atlanta
The Mt. Zion Baptist Church bus that was involved in a fatal wreck near Atlanta glided more than one hundred thirty feet after it hit another car and overturned, a crash report shows.
The bus, driven by 71-year-old Jerry Sims, struck a two thousand seventeen Chrysler two hundred on Camp Creek Parkway during an improper lane switch, according to the initial report. The report was released today by the Fulton County Police Department in Georgia.
Sims, who remains hospitalized, has been charged with misdemeanor second-degree homicide by vehicle and failure to maintain lane in the crash that killed 17-year-old missionary Sarah Harmening. Harmening was a passenger in the bus that was headed from Huntsville to an Atlanta airport. Harmening and her youth group from Mt. Zion were on their way to a mission journey in Africa.
A Fulton County police spokeswoman said this morning authorities hadn’t yet interviewed Sims. Police haven’t provided details about the charges.
After the bus struck the Chrysler, the church vehicle traveled one hundred sixty three feet through the grass and on concrete, the report states. After the bus flipped, it glided one hundred thirty six feet on its roof before colliding with a third vehicle, a one thousand nine hundred ninety seven Mercedes Benz, the report shows.
The bus and Chrysler were traveling eastbound when the bus switched lanes and struck the car, according to the crash report. The driver of the Chrysler, Jada Leakes, told police she was driving in the outside eastbound lane when the bus moved from the inwards lane and struck her car.
"Ms. Leakes stated that she attempted to avoid the bus but was unsuccessful," the crash report states.
Leakes, an Atlanta resident, told police her vehicle was compelled off the road before she hit a drainage ditch and a few petite trees, according to the report.
After the bus struck Leakes’ car, Sims attempted to swerve back into the inwards lane and lost control of the bus, the report states. The bus went into the median and flipped before colliding with the westbound Mercedes, which was driven by Stone Mountain, Georgia resident Edward Jordan.
"I also attempted to speak with several occupants on the bus who were able to speak to me," police officer Kevan J. Thompson wrote in the crash report. "No one that I spoke to could add any further information as to how the accident occurred. I was told by several occupants that all they recall was the bus making a unexpected left turn and then the bus flipped."
Thompson also interviewed Sarah Harmenings’s father Scott, the report shows. Scott Harmening was driving another bus directly behind the one on which his daughter was killed. He told police the bus driven by Sims switched lanes and evidently didn’t see the Chrysler, according to the report.
At the time of the interview, Scott Harmening hadn’t been notified of his daughter’s death, the report states. A chaplain spoke to the victim’s father after the interview. Sarah Harmening had been trapped inwards the bus. Her figure was taken from the scene by the Fulton County Medical Examiner.
The report lists a total of thirty nine injuries.
Extra information hasn’t been released. A church spokesman wasn’t available for comment.
Church bus slipped one hundred thirty six feet on its roof in crash that killed youthfull Alabama missionary
Church bus glided one hundred thirty six feet on its roof in crash that killed youthful Alabama missionary
Gallery: Huntsville church bus crashes in Atlanta
The Mt. Zion Baptist Church bus that was involved in a fatal wreck near Atlanta slipped more than one hundred thirty feet after it hit another car and overturned, a crash report shows.
The bus, driven by 71-year-old Jerry Sims, struck a two thousand seventeen Chrysler two hundred on Camp Creek Parkway during an improper lane switch, according to the initial report. The report was released today by the Fulton County Police Department in Georgia.
Sims, who remains hospitalized, has been charged with misdemeanor second-degree homicide by vehicle and failure to maintain lane in the crash that killed 17-year-old missionary Sarah Harmening. Harmening was a passenger in the bus that was headed from Huntsville to an Atlanta airport. Harmening and her youth group from Mt. Zion were on their way to a mission tour in Africa.
A Fulton County police spokeswoman said this morning authorities hadn’t yet interviewed Sims. Police haven’t provided details about the charges.
After the bus struck the Chrysler, the church vehicle traveled one hundred sixty three feet through the grass and on concrete, the report states. After the bus flipped, it glided one hundred thirty six feet on its roof before colliding with a third vehicle, a one thousand nine hundred ninety seven Mercedes Benz, the report shows.
The bus and Chrysler were traveling eastbound when the bus switched lanes and struck the car, according to the crash report. The driver of the Chrysler, Jada Leakes, told police she was driving in the outside eastbound lane when the bus moved from the inwards lane and struck her car.
"Ms. Leakes stated that she attempted to avoid the bus but was unsuccessful," the crash report states.
Leakes, an Atlanta resident, told police her vehicle was compelled off the road before she hit a drainage ditch and a few petite trees, according to the report.
After the bus struck Leakes’ car, Sims attempted to swerve back into the inwards lane and lost control of the bus, the report states. The bus went into the median and flipped before colliding with the westbound Mercedes, which was driven by Stone Mountain, Georgia resident Edward Jordan.
"I also attempted to speak with several occupants on the bus who were able to speak to me," police officer Kevan J. Thompson wrote in the crash report. "No one that I spoke to could add any further information as to how the accident occurred. I was told by several occupants that all they reminisce was the bus making a unexpected left turn and then the bus flipped."
Thompson also interviewed Sarah Harmenings’s father Scott, the report shows. Scott Harmening was driving another bus directly behind the one on which his daughter was killed. He told police the bus driven by Sims switched lanes and evidently didn’t see the Chrysler, according to the report.
At the time of the interview, Scott Harmening hadn’t been notified of his daughter’s death, the report states. A chaplain spoke to the victim’s father after the interview. Sarah Harmening had been trapped inwards the bus. Her bod was taken from the scene by the Fulton County Medical Examiner.
The report lists a total of thirty nine injuries.
Extra information hasn’t been released. A church spokesman wasn’t available for comment.
