22 Salem High School Students Injured in Conyers School Bus Accident

Bus Carrying the Salem High School Football Team Crossed Every Lane of McDonough Highway Before Rolling Onto Its Side

CONYERS, GEORGIA (November 9, 2026) – Twenty-two Salem High School students, most of them members of the football program, were injured along with three adults in a school bus accident near Interstate 20 in Conyers.

Rockdale County officials are saying that the crash occurred around 10:45 p.m. on Friday, October 23. The students, trainers, and coaches were heading home from an away game against Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross when the Georgia State Patrol says the 74-year-old bus driver lost control while turning right from the eastbound I-20 exit onto McDonough Highway (SR 138).

The bus was reportedly carrying 27 people at the time of the collision. And it ended up crossing the southbound lanes and into the northbound lanes before colliding with a Kia Soul.

The force of the impact caused major damage to both vehicles. First responders were called to the scene of the accident to help all of the victims. One student needed to be airlifted to a hospital.

In total, 22 Salem High School students were injured in the collision. It remains unclear what may have contributed to the bus driver losing control.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Conyers School Bus Accident

Georgia’s rules of the road apply to every driver, and O.C.G.A. § 40-6-120 requires that both the approach for a right turn and the turn itself be made as close as practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the roadway. There’s a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that crosses into opposing lanes of traffic before colliding with another vehicle. These types of collisions routinely involve drivers that are traveling too fast for the prevailing conditions. Claims involving commercial buses will typically hinge on a few key areas.

• Driver Training: Bus drivers are required to receive a certain amount of training so that they are familiar with how their vehicle operates.
• Vehicle Condition: The condition that the vehicle was in is another important piece of evidence. Poorly maintained vehicles are more likely to malfunction in unpredictable ways.
• Surveillance Footage: It is relatively common for buses to have surveillance footage that captures much of what the driver sees. This footage could contain important evidence in determining liability.
• Common Carriers: The nature of any bus trip should also be taken into consideration. Any bus that is being used to transport passengers for a fee is considered a common carrier.

When a bus driver acts negligently and causes a collision that injures passengers, their employer could potentially be held legally responsible. As a general principle, employers in Georgia can be held legally responsible for the negligent actions of their workers who are operating within the course and scope of their job duties. There could also be several other sources of liability. This includes the company responsible for maintaining any bus if a vehicle system failure contributed to an accident.

Seat Belts and Rollover Protection on School Buses

According to NHTSA, there were 962 fatal school-transportation-related crashes from 2015 to 2024, and 119 people riding in school transportation vehicles were killed, including 70 passengers. The National Safety Council estimates that about 34 percent of the people injured in school bus-related crashes over the same period were bus passengers. Seat belts can go a long way towards preventing many of the most serious injuries that a person could face in a bus collision. What follows are a few other measures that are known to prevent or mitigate collisions.

• Driver Oversight: Bus collisions tend to be less common when there is adequate oversight of bus drivers.
• Safety Technology: Technological features such as electronic stability control and automatic emergency braking can prevent many crashes.
• Route Planning: Route planning is also extremely important. A large number of preventable bus collisions involve drivers that are making left turns. Eliminating left turns can significantly reduce crashes.
• Bus Maintenance: Buses tend to have a very high utilization rate and are susceptible to breaking down if they’re not properly maintained.

Bus collisions tend to be highly complex events. The factors that contribute to any bus crash could take place many hours or even days beforehand. Unfortunately, school districts and bus companies are not likely to be transparent after any collision. This is why it is so important that these incidents are properly investigated by an outside party. The family of any child injured in a school bus crash is able to seek a certain measure of accountability through a personal injury claim.

Investigating School Bus Accidents in Conyers

We at Butler Kahn wish a full and speedy recovery to the Salem High School students, coaches, and trainers hurt near Interstate 20 in Conyers. We hope for full accountability and for safety improvements that keep another team from enduring the same ordeal on the ride home. This was a highly preventable crash that should’ve never taken place. Any person that may have more information should reach out to investigators.

Have you or a loved one been injured in a Georgia school bus accident? You may be entitled to significant financial compensation. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys is here to support you. We are committed to helping accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need in order to recover. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at 678-940-1444.

Jeb ButlerState Bar: #116955

Jeb Butler’s career as a Georgia trial lawyer has led to a $150 million verdict in a product liability case against Chrysler for a dangerous vehicle design that caused the death of a child, a $45 million settlement for a young man who permanently lost the ability to walk and talk, a $3,973,260 settlement after a boating accident, and a $1,250,000 settlement in a pedestrian case, and numerous other verdicts and settlements, many of which are confidential at the defendant’s insistence. Jeb has worked on several cases that led to systemic changes and improvements in public safety. He has been repeatedly recognized as a Georgia SuperLawyer and ranks among Georgia’s legal elite. Jeb graduated in the top 10% of his class at UGA Law, argued on the National Moot Court team, and published in the Law Review. He is the founding partner of Butler Kahn law firm. Connect with me on LinkedIn