Cookeville Police Department Press Release:
Cookeville, TN – At 7:28 AM on Friday, August 16, 2024, officers responded to the area of East Broad Street and Briargate Way in reference to a single vehicle crash involving a Putnam County School Bus. There was a large first responder response to the area due to reports of possible injuries to students. The Cookeville Police Department, Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Cookeville Fire Department, Putnam County EMS, and Putnam County School System all responded to the scene and assisted the students that were on the bus. We are relieved to report that there were no injuries to anyone involved in the crash and that all the students were released to their parents or taken to their respective schools.
During the crash investigation, officers with the Cookeville Police Department found that the bus was traveling west on East Broad Street approaching Briargate Way when its tires went off the right side of the road into a deep ditch line. The bus driver was unable to regain control and steer the vehicle back onto the roadway, striking a utility pole, and coming to rest in a ditch at Briargate Way. As a result, East Broad Street was shut down for approximately two hours while crews and first responders worked to clear the bus and cable lines from the roadway.
We appreciate the prompt response of all the agencies involved in assisting the children in our community during this unsettling incident, and we are profoundly relived that there were no injuries.