LEONARD GRAY / L’Observateur / December 15, 1999

NORCO – Swift response by an alert bus driver avoided “what could have been a disaster,” when a loaded school bus was hit Dec. 9 by a truck withan alleged drunk driver, according to a St. Charles Parish Schoolsspokesperson.

Alex Vicknair, 39, of Montz, was driving through the Bonnet Carre Spillway Road connecting Norco and Montz, carrying 22 children from Hurst Middle School home at 2:30 p.m.Coming in the other direction was a dump truck carrying a full load of dirt.

According to witnesses, Lt. Dwayne LaGrange reported, the truck was zig-zagging dangerously and speeding along the narrow road.

LaGrange estimated the dump truck was driving at 60 mph on the narrow road, before it struck the bus.

James Downing, 36, 817 Terrace St., New Sarpy, was driving the dumptruck. As the two vehicles neared each other, Vicknair veered off to theright in an attempt to avoid a head-on collision. He didn’t quite avoid animpact, though, as the truck sideswiped the bus, scraping the left rear corner and shattering several windows.

The dump truck rebounded to the other side of the road and capsized.

As a result of the accident, the children sustained mild neck and back injuries and some sustained minor cuts from the broken glass. All weretaken to St. Charles Parish Hospital in Luling for treatment. According toRochelle Touchard of St. Charles Parish Schools, six did not return toschool on the following day, recovering from the trauma.

Neither driver were injured, according to Deputy M.D. Cavaliere. Downingwas charged with DWI second offense and careless operation of a motor vehicle. Bond was set at $150,000 by 29th Judicial District Judge KirkGranier.

Vicknair, a substitute driver with only two years experience, was highly praised for his quick reaction which avoided a potentially disastrous situation.

“I wish we had him full time,” Touchard commented.

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