A school bus accident late Monday afternoon sent 24 children to the hospital, according to an emergency room nurse at Shands Live Oak.

The accident, involving bus #176 (Route 44), happened on CR 136 near River Road.

According to witnesses at the scene, a substitute bus driver drove onto the shoulder and struck a mailbox on the roadside.

A total of 38 children were on the bus at the time. Twenty-four students were taken to the hospital by way of a second bus, according to an emergency room charge nurse, Jennifer Smithard.

As of 5:30 p.m., seven children had been treated and released, while two remained to undergo further tests and treatment.

One child was struck by a seltbelt, according to Suwannee County Superintendent of Schools Jerry Scarborough.

A man who witnessed the accident, but chose to withhold his name, said the bus struck the mailbox headed west on 136 then veered into a roadside ditch.

The witness said the driver tried to regain control of the bus, which then veered onto the opposite side of the road, skidding along the east ditch. The driver was then able to regain control of the vehicle as it came to rest on the west shoulder of the highway, the witness said.

“Kids were scared and screaming,” said the witness. “I heard one say that they never wanted to ride a bus again.”

Parents arrived a short while later. Some checked their children off the bus, while others were taken to the hospital.

State Trooper James Taylor said the driver of the bus did not appear to be impaired. He walked away unhurt but a little shaken up.

Other school officials, including Scarborough arrived at the scene soon after. Scarborough later traveled to the hospital to check on the injured children.

There were no major injuries reported as of 5:40 p.m., Smithard said.