By Rupert Howell

No students were injured aboard a South Panola school bus that was involved in a wreck Thursday morning on Highway 6 east of Batesville according to school superintendent Dr. Keith Shaffer.

“I just thank God the little girl was already on the bus,” said Bus 032 driver Rachael Baker who had just loaded her 22nd student on the bus before a pickup clipped the left rear side of the bus then hit another car in the left lane leaving the pickup and the car both in the median.

Baker indicated the student had already loaded and the bus was beginning to move forward when the collision occurred. She was headed east on Highway 6 west of Central Academy Road.

Shaffer estimated the time of the accident was 6:45 a.m. and said all students were checked at the wreck site by emergency medical staff on the scene and no injuries were reported.

Parents of three of the students were allowed to pick up their children at the scene and the bus continued its route from the wreck site.

Shaffer said that besides being “shook up, all kids, everybody was fine.”

An attempt to reach Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol spokesman prior to deadline was unsuccessful however witnesses at the scene reported no serious injuries.