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Defective brakes cited in school bus accident

By Carey Phillips
Defective brakes were cited as the cause of a minor school bus accident last week, but it's not clear if the brakes on the bus had been checked for previously reported problems.

The accident occurred at 7:40 a.m. May 2 on U.S. 23 Business near Council Circle. A bus operated by Jean Tilley of Cullowhee and taking students to Smoky Mountain High School ran into the rear of a 1996 Chevrolet driven by Shalina Stiles of Candler, Sylva Police Chief Jeff Jamison said. The Chevrolet was stopped at the traffic light at Business 23 and N.C. 107.

A report filed by Officer Davis Woodard listed defective brakes under the "vehicle defects" portion of the report. "Following too closely" and "driver inattention" were listed as contributing factors, Jamison said. No charges were filed. Following the wreck, Tilley drove the bus to Smoky Mountain High, where a couple of students began to complain of some pain, said Jamison. They were taken to Harris Regional Hospital, where all were treated and released.

"The driver of the bus said she had no brakes on the bus," Jamison said. Tilley also reported to Woodard that she had experienced previous problems with the brakes and had asked the school bus garage to have the bus checked, he said.

"She apparently did make that statement," Superintendent Frank Burrell said. However, a check of daily records at the bus garage showed no reports had been made of any problems with the bus "in the last month or so," he said.

He added that SM Principal Ken Henke reported Tilley had said nothing to him about any problems with the bus. Tilley told Henke she had reported the problem to an employee at the bus garage, Burrell said.

A couple of weeks prior to the accident, bus garage employees applied a grease seal in a back wheel of the bus, a procedure that required the brakes be removed, Burrell said. The brakes were adjusted at that time and found to be working fine. They were checked again after the wreck and were working, Burrell said. The bus is currently being repaired for damage done in the accident, he said.

"It will go back in service as soon as it is repaired," said Burrell.

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