The following happened yesterday about a mile from the school. The incident was with a Middle School bus. His daughter, who is in the High School of about 550 kids learned of this shortly after. It is sad please pray for the family, it could have been any one of us.

The Herald | heraldonline.com print | close window

Motorcyclist hits school bus, dies
No Indian Land Elementary School students were injured, but counseling will be offered
By Jenny Overman - Fort Mill Times

A motorcyclist was killed Thursday after crashing into the rear of a stopped school bus carrying dozens of elementary school students on U.S. 521 in Lancaster County, authorities said.
None of the 68 Indian Land Elementary School students on the bus were injured, and all were brought home, said Bryan Vaughn, director of safety and transportation for the Lancaster County school district. The accident occurred around 2:30 p.m.

The motorcyclist was Thomas Lee Pecklinpaugh, a 55-year-old Indian Land resident who died from head and chest injuries, said Lancaster County Coroner Mike Morris.

He was wearing a helmet, Morris said.

Michael Thompson, 58, who was driving the bus, was wearing a seat belt and wasn't injured, said Lance Cpl. Jeff Gaskin of the S.C. Highway Patrol.

The bus was traveling north on U.S. 521 near Thousand Oaks Drive in northern Lancaster County when it stopped to let students out at a stop and was struck by the 2008 Harley Davidson, Gaskin said.

The students were taken off the bus to a shaded area behind a home to shield them from the accident scene.

“Unfortunately, they probably saw the (fatality) because the individual, the motorcycle, was on the pavement,” Vaughn said. “That's something we're concerned with, that there could be some emotional distress and we want to be very sensitive to that.”

Another school bus was brought to the accident scene. Students were taken back to the school and their parents were contacted. Counselors will be available at the school today for students if needed, Vaughn said.

The bus driver was suspended pending an investigation, Vaughn said. Highway Patrol officers were on the scene Thursday doing an accident reconstruction.

The driver also will be offered counseling, Vaughn said.

“We want to make sure his emotional needs are addressed as well,” Vaughn said.

— Herald reporter Christy Mullins contributed.

 

Will do......very sad indeed.

 

My prayers go out to all involved.

 

Thats going to be tough for the rider's family and all those kids.

 

Sad day on everyone's part

 

Very sad indeed for all families involved but I must say how do you not see a school bus

 

Sad for all. Prayers sent.

 

Prayers sent, he must have blacked out or heart attack or something. Those buses stop pretty often letting kids off.

 

Very sad indeed. He must have blacked out, the busses around here are lit up like a christmas tree when they are stopped.

 

Prayers go out to him and the family. I wonder if he got distracted or if it was something health related? Sad... RIP Thomas Lee Pecklinpaugh