NTSB releases preliminary report on deadly bus crash in Carroll County

CARROLL COUNTY, Tenn. (WKRN) — On Thursday, the National Transportation Safety Board released a preliminary report on the crash in Carroll County that led to the deaths of two Kenwood Middle School students. The crash happened around 11:35 a.m. on March 27. According to Thursday's preliminary report, a 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer and a 2013 International WorkStar dump truck operated by the Tennessee Department of Transportation were driving east along Highway 70. The 2024 Blue Bird Conventional Type C school bus — operated by the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System and carrying 24 students, four adults and the driver — was driving west. As the three vehicles approached each other, the NTSB said "the school bus crossed the centerline of the roadway and entered the eastbound travel lane." Then, the left side of the bus struck the dump truck's left side. After striking the dump truck, the report said the bus then collided with the Trailblazer and left the roadway to the south before coming to a final rest facedown in the roadside embankment. Zoe Davis and Arianna Pearson, both eighth graders heading on a field trip to the Toyota Hub City Grand Prix Greenpower USA Race with their classmates, died. The driver also sustained serious injuries, the NTSB report said, and other passengers' injuries ranged from minor to serious. Two occupants inside the dump truck were also seriously injured, but the two occupants of the Trailblazer were not hurt. Weather was clear and the roadway was dry, the NTSB said. Though the preliminary report was released, the NTSB added the investigation is still ongoing. News 2 previously reported that the driver — who as of publication, does not face any charges associated with the crash — was hired in summer 2021 and received either "satisfactory" or "very satisfactory" reviews and has an otherwise crash-free record. Davis' family has filed a lawsuit against the driver and the school district over the crash, alleging the driver was negligent, fatigued, distracted and failed to exercise “due care in operation of the school bus she was driving.” The lawsuit also claimed the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System failed to adequately assess the driver’s "fitness for employment as a school bus driver" prior to her employment and did not offer adequate training.