Dawson County middle school student killed in school bus crash

HALL COUNTY, Ga. - A Dawson County middle school student was killed in a car wreck involving a school bus Wednesday morning.

According to the Georgia State Patrol, 33-year-old Lonnie Anderson, of Dawsonville, was driving a Ford Mustang on Georgia Highway 60 northbound when the car hydroplaned and struck a school bus in the southbound lane. The car then rotated counter-clockwise and hit the bus again. The crash killed Anderson’s 13-year-old daughter, Summer, who was a seventh-grader at Dawson County Middle School. Summer’s best friend, Lynn Dugger, talked about how devastated she was by the loss of her friend.

“She was brave, faithful, sweet, nice, loving, giving and especially smart,” Dugger said.

She said the two of them walked everywhere together and would often share their innermost thoughts.

Anderson’s 12-year-old brother, Zachary, survived the crash, but suffered extensive injuries and was in intensive care at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.

The children’s father, Lonnie Anderson was seriously hurt and rushed to Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville.

Hall County Fire Services said 19 students were on the school bus when the wreck happened. According to the GSP, three of the students suffered minor injuries and were taken to the hospital. The bus driver, 65-year-old Barbara Flowers, also complained of an injury.

Dawson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Damon Gibbs released a statement Wednesday morning following the heartbreaking news of Summer's death:

"I am writing with great sadness to inform you that one of our Dawson County Middle School students, Summer Faith Anderson, was in an automobile accident this morning and has passed away. Our thoughts and sympathies are with Summer's family and friends. Members of our Crisis Response Team are available to meet with students individually and in groups today as well as over the coming days and weeks. Please contact the school office if you feel your child is in need of additional assistance; we have a list of school and community mental health resources."

The GSP said Anderson could be facing charges based upon the "seriousness of his medical condition."