A Cannon County Schools Bus was involved in an accident on Wednesday afternoon, October 28th, 2020 with no students or bus driver injured. At approximately 2:55 PM, Cannon County Schools Bus #15-09, driven by Veteran Bus Driver Felisa Coppinger, was rear-ended by a small pickup truck on Highway 53 South near the E-911 Center.
The bus moved to the side of the highway and 911 was called, as well as, Cannon County Schools Transportation Supervisor Lisa Black. All students and the driver were checked and thankfully, no students or the Bus Driver suffered any injuries whatsoever. The bus had just left Cannon County High School heading to Woodland Elementary School and was stopped dropping off a student, when it was hit by the small pickup truck. Supervisor Lisa Black arrived and students were transferred to another Cannon County Schools Bus and transported to Woodland Elementary School. The only damage to the Bus was smudged paint on the bus bumper. The pickup truck suffered significant damaged to its front end, and the driver and passenger were uninjured.
Members of the Tennessee Highway Patrol were contacted and Bus #15-09 has been approved to resume service on Thursday, October 29th, 2020. Cannon County Schools is appreciative to the Cannon County Sheriff’s Department, Cannon County Emergency Management, and the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
In light of the recent tragedy in Meigs County, Tennessee involving the fatality of a Bus Driver and a 7 year old Student, Cannon County Schools would like to remind Cannon County Citizens to exercise caution around Cannon County School Buses.
Director of Cannon County Schools – William F. Curtis stated, “We were very fortunate that this accident was very minor. The safety of our students is the most important priority for our schools. The recent tragedy in Meigs County, Tennessee was very much on my mind today. I had sent an email message to Meigs County Schools Director Clint Baker, who I was in beginning Superintendents Academy with two years ago. We had been in numerous sessions together, and he is a personal friend. Our prayers of gratitude for the safety of our Cannon County Students are mixed with those of sorrow for our friends in Meigs County who have experienced this tragedy. I ask all drivers in Cannon County to please slow down and pay close attention to our Cannon County School buses as they are loading and unloading our most precious asset – our students. Our Bus Drivers work very hard as a part of the Cannon County Schools Team to achieve OUR NEW VISION – ‘Engaged in Excellence EVERY Day in EVERY Way!’ A special thanks to Bus Driver Felisa Coppinger, Transportation Supervisor Lisa Black, and Cannon County Emergency Responders!”