Karina Soto, Child Injured in Tift County School Bus Accident

School Bus Driver Reportedly Failed to Yield Before Colliding With Jeep on GA 520 at Mixon Abbott Road

TIFT COUNTY, GEORGIA (April 27, 2026) –  A woman identified as Karina Soto and a 10-year-old girl were injured in a Tift County school bus accident on GA 520 at Mixon Abbott Road.

Tift County officials are saying that the collision took place around 7:26 a.m. on Monday, April 20. A school bus failed to yield and struck the left side of a Jeep.

The force of the impact caused the Jeep to overturn. A 10-year-old girl inside of the Jeep was ejected and seriously injured in the process. That girl was transported to the hospital with major injuries.

Karina Soto and two other children inside of the Jeep were also injured in the crash. It remains unclear if the school bus driver involved in the crash will face any citations.

A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Tift County School Bus Accidents

School buses are considered common carriers and must operate their vehicles with an abundance of caution to avoid collisions. This requires that they yield the right-of-way to other vehicles before making any turn on the roadway. Pursuant to GA Code § 40-6-71, “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right of way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is within the intersection or so close thereto as to constitute an immediate hazard.” There are several reasons that school buses can be particularly dangerous.

• Blind Spots: School buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of other vehicles.
• Weight: School buses can weigh 36,000 pounds and have much longer stopping distances than smaller vehicles.
• Seat Belts: School buses often lack seatbelts, which can put passengers seriously at risk.
• Top Heavy: School buses have a high center of gravity, which makes them more susceptible to rollovers.

IF a school bus driver fails to yield the right-of-way to another vehicle at an intersection, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. There is a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that turns into the path of an oncoming vehicle. Liability for a school bus collision could extend to multiple parties beyond a school bus driver. The private company or municipal entity that they work for could also be held at fault. Employers in the state of Georgia can be vicariously liable for the tortious actions of their employees working within the course and scope of their job duties.

Steps to Take After Georgia School Bus Accidents

 School buses are typically very safe for their passengers. But they can be especially dangerous for pedestrians and those in passenger vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, “School bus-related crashes killed 110 people nationwide in 2024, down 14% compared to the 128 deaths in 2023, according to National Safety Council (NSC) tabulations of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).”  Several steps should be taken after any Georgia school bus accident.

• All of the medical records related to the accident should be collected.
• Photos of the accident site should be taken.
• The police report created after the accident should be reviewed.
• Victims should seek an independent review by a team experienced in bus accident claims.

It can be difficult to know what to do after any bus accident. Victims are often left with high medical bills. Unfortunately, bus companies will virtually never accept responsibility when they cause a major crash. This is why it is so important that these incidents are investigated by an outside party. Any person injured in a bus accident may be able to pursue damages through a personal injury claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills, and pain and suffering.

Investigating Georgia School Bus Accidents

We at Butler Kahn extend our best wishes to Karina Soto and the children injured in this collision. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Georgia school bus crash? You may have legal recourse. Our team of bus accident attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to protecting the rights of victims and holding school districts fully accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at 678-940-1444.

Jeb Butler

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, 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