Clarkville Police Investigating Two Separate, But Related Bus Crashes at the Same Location

Clarksville, TN – Clarksville Police are investigating two separate accidents involving school buses. The first school bus crash occurred December 14th, 2012, around 7:11am.

A school bus was stopped eastbound on Dunbar Cave Road near the intersection of Warfield Boulevard when a Mercury Mountaineer driven by a 16 year old female could not stop in time and crashed into the rear-end of the bus. There was a total of 57 students aboard the bus.

Ten students and the bus driver were transported to Gateway Medical Center with complaints of neck and/or head pain. Another five students were picked up at the scene by their parents and transported to the hospital to have them checked out. One of the students is still being evaluated for a possible back injury.

A second bus arrived on scene to transport the remaining students to Rossview Middle School and Rossview High School.

That’s when the second crash occurred around 8:03am. The students were transferring from one bus to the other when a 2009 Dodge Caravan, driven by Alec Bachand, 21, traveling south on Warfield Boulevard went around traffic cones, unaware of the existing school bus crash, and made a right turn onto westbound Dunbar Cave Road.

When he saw the conglomeration of vehicles, he could not stop due to faulty brakes. He sideswiped the second bus, proceeded onward missing several vehicles and people, and ran off the right side of roadway near the Swan Lake golf course.

Bachand conveyed to the investigating officer that he was aware the brakes were faulty, was taking the vehicle to be repaired, and was using the emergency brake to stop the vehicle.

The 16 year old was cited for Following Too Closely.

Alec Bachand, 21 was cited for Reckless Driving, Operating An Unsafe Vehicle, and No Insurance.

The crash investigators are:  Officers Sarah Sager and Derrick Cronk.