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Deadly wreck involving school bus

A crash involving a van and a school bus killed one person Tuesday afternoon in Limestone County.

62-year-old Jeff Camp of Tanner died at the scene.

His passenger in the 1994 GMC, Seth Milby of Elkmont, was airlifted to Huntsville Hospital.

As of Tuesday night, he was listed in stable condition.

Neither men were wearing seatbelts.

Seven children were on the bus, luckily only receiving minor injuries.

Bus driver Martha Taylor's son tells WAFF 48 News she has been discharged from the hospital.

She has a bruised collarbone and shoulder.

It was a sad situation along a dangerous intersection.

A burgundy van traveled south on Easter Ferry Road in Limestone County, just one mile west of Athens, shortly before three.

At the same time, a yellow school bus, west on New Cut Road.

Alabama State Trooper Curtis Summerville says, "We're not sure if the van did not stop or either it stopped and then pulled in front of the bus.  We're not sure at this point, however the van pulled in front of the bus.  As a result, the bus struck the van."

The driver of the van, Jeff Camp, was killed on impact.

His passenger, Seth Milby, was flown by Med Flight to Huntsville.

Limestone County Transportation Director Darryl Adams says, "We had seven students and one bus driver on the bus and the students are fine.  We transported one.  He had a little knot on his head."

But this isn't the only wreck in the area.

An old bridge is being reconstructed on Highway 99, so a detour has been set up.

Since then we're told 10 accidents, including Tuesday's, have occurred.

Owens firefighter Teresa Lovell has responded to many of the accidents.

She says, "The detour is supposed to go down New Cut Road to Tillman Mill Road and turn and go back up and hit 99 and I don't think people are doing that.  They're coming up Easter Ferry Road because it's shorter."

WAFF 48 News was told drivers are cutting through a subdivision, looping around until they get to Easter Ferry Road. We were also told that less than a week ago, a driver actually took out a guard rail near the bridge.  

A bridge that is narrow and not really designed for two way traffic.

Just by looking at the bridge you can see the danger of this "shortcut."

Drivers on New Cut must wait until vehicles at the stop sign on Easter Ferry pull out so the narrow bridge is clear.  

Ironically, Owens firefighters went to the elementary school Friday to talk about what to do if in an accident.

The principal says everyone followed correct protocol.

Just east of the area, not far from the scene of Tuesday's accident, safety officials also want  drivers to use extra caution.

It's at the intersection of Elk River Mills and Tillman Mill Road.

They say even since a flashing caution light has been added, there still have been two fatalities.