It was also a good example, said Robins spokesperson Chrissy Miner, of base and local emergency responders working together to take care of the top priority at the moment – the welfare of students onboard the bus from Bonaire Middle School.
Reports indicate that some 12 students along with driver, Michael Campbell, were taken to the hospital. None of the students were seriously injured. Officials are not sure what caused Campbell to lose control of the bus.
The incident created at least a temporary security issue for the base after some 500 feet of chain-link fencing was knocked down. Miner said base security forces responded immediately to control access to the base and a civil engineering team was able to re-erect about 450 feet . Some 50 feet at the point of impact was destroyed.
“Civil engineers temporarily patched the 50 feet,” said Miner, “and a contractor will install a permanent fix on Friday.”
She offered praise not only for base responders but also for their counterparts in Houston County, Warner Robins and the Georgia State Patrol.
“We are constantly exercising how we work with emergency responders outside the gate,” Miner pointed out, “and everything that happened Wednesday was seamless. Everybody knew what to do. Everything went perfect.”
She said similar scenarios are exercised frequently.
“So it’s nice to see everything come together,” Miner added.
(Editor's Note: Still under active investigation.)