Rome HS football team members released from hospital, driver arrested identified
Rome High School bus crash a DUI investigation
Twenty-one-year-old Jeyonna Underwood faces DUI and endangerment charges after a crash just before 10:30 a.m. along Highway 101 near Aragon. The crash caused a school bus carrying the Rome Wolves football team to overturn, sending dozens to the hospital.
POLK COUNTY, Ga. - A driver has been taken into custody in connection with the crash that caused a Rome High School bus carrying student-athletes returning from a football scrimmage to overturn on Thursday evening.
The crash happened shortly before 10:30 p.m. along Highway 101 near Doc Moates Road and Old Rome Road. That is about 2 miles northwest of Aragon.
According to residents in the area, the bus and another vehicle got into an accident, causing the bus to overturn and skid into a power pole. The other vehicle ended up going down an embankment.
Joshua Sutherland was about to go to bed when he heard a loud boom outside his home.
"There was a bus laying on the side, and I dropped everything and ran over there to help get the bus driver out," Sutherland said.
He called the scene "total chaos" as he worked to get students out safely.
Officials at Atrium Health Floyd Medical Center said 15 patients - three adults and 12 students - were transported to the hospital. All of them have since been treated and released.
"There were a bunch of cuts, lacerations or bruises. I think one of them may have broken his ankle or something. The other one hurt his shoulder," Sutherland said.
A school bus carrying the Rome High School football team was involved in a crash along State Route 101 near Doc Moates Road, just northwest of Aragon on Aug. 9, 2024. (Douglas Sutherland)
Investigators with the Georgia State Patrol say the crash was caused by the driver of the Nissan Versa failing to maintain her lane, causing her to drift over the line and hit the school bus.
Detectives say they suspected the driver of the Nissan was under the influence of alcohol and placed her under arrest.
On Friday morning, they identified the driver as 21-year-old Jeyonna Jariah Underwood of Rome. Underwood has been charged with DUI, failure to maintain lane, and DUI endangerment of child under the age of 14.
According to Georgia Power, the crash knocked out power for more than 500 customers.
Rome City Schools praises bus driver
Rome City Schools released a statement late Friday thanking "the many emergency responders, police, sheriff's resource officers, paramedics, and more, who helped last night after the bus crash."
The district also singled out the bus driver in the statement writing:
"We would also like to give a special thank you to bus driver Nakita Strickland. Strickland’s fast thinking and safety-first mindset kept the crash from becoming far worse."
The district reiterated that all students and staff were released from the hospital as of Friday morning.
"We appreciate everyone who reached out to offer their help and support," the statement concludes.
Rome City Schools on school bus crash
According to Rome City Schools, all students and staff were accounted for as of 11:15 p.m.
The school district released an update around 11:45 p.m. stating:
"All buses are back on the road and are heading to Rome High School."
Rockmart High School offers prayers after school bus crash
The team was at Rockmart High School for a scrimmage between the two schools.
The Polk County District Schools released the following statement following the crash:
"Polk School District extends our thoughts and prayers to the Rome High School student athletes and staff involved in a bus accident following Thursday evening’s scrimmage at Rockmart High School. Please join us in sending well wishes to all involved. "
The Rockmart Touchdown Club echoed those sentiments on Facebook, writing:
"Prayers for Rome High School coaches, players, bus driver and anyone else involved."
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.