CLAYTON COUNTY, Ga. (WXIA) – 11Alive News has received dramatic video involving the crash of a Clayton County school bus.
It was the quick action of bus driver Terry Pettiford that kept it from being worse than it was. The driver spoke Thursday about what happened.
"It was like slow motion," said Pettiford.
The dramatic video from an onboard camera shows the terrifying seven seconds when Terry Pettiford's school bus struck a car that had crossed the center line on Panhandle Road, then swerved left and struck two houses.
"I thank God every day I was able to live through that," she said.
The 15-year veteran described the ordeal in a Clayton County news conference.
"All I saw was a car coming at me," Pettiford said.
She says she had to swerve to avoid a head on collision.
"I knew the park was full of kids and I had to go right or left, so I chose left," she said.
Left took the bus right into Tom and Barbara Essinger's garage.
"I actually saw the roof coming down and the glass shattering and I tried to protect my eyes," Pettiford said.
While inside the Essinger's home, Barbara Essinger said she heard a big noise.
"We heard a big crash," she said. "I thought something exploded."
Barbara Essinger suffered a knee injury when she was thrown from her couch. Pettiford has whiplash and bruises. She says she has watched the video once, and doesn't want to see it again.
"Emotionally it's still there -- I still cry every day," Pettiford said. "I'm happy to be alive and I thank God every day."
