The driver of a bus that crashed March 12th, has announced her resignation.
A Miami Trace School bus driver who was behind the wheel of a bus that crashed in March carrying over 50 students has resigned.
Corene "Corky" Cowdery handed a letter of resignation to district officials on March 29 detailing that she was resigning from her position at Miami Trace, Clear Channel's Derek Myers reported.
"I hereby notify you of my resignation as an employee of the Miami Trace Local School District to be effective as of April 3, 2012, which would include all contracts that I am presently under.", said Cowdery. Although the letter did not express why she was resigning, Cowdery thanked her supervisors and former colleagues for the relationships she had built during her tenure of employment at Miami Trace.
"I wish to express to you, the board and the entire district my appreciation for the 4 ½ years of employment. I have enjoyed my service to the district and have appreciated the relationship I have had with my supervisors and other employees" said Cowdery.
Superintendent Dan Roberts said the letter was provided to him from Cowdery and that it is on the April 3, 2012 School Board agenda for the board's approval.
On March 12, Cowdery was driving a school bus on State Route 38 between Bloomingburg and Washington Court House carrying over 50 students when she veered off of the right side of the road and failed to regain control of the bus. The bus hit the downward sloping edge of the ditch and rolled onto its side, pinning the front exit door shut. Students quickly exited the bus with help from four high school students, who were on the bus at the time of the crash, by using emergency exits, Myers reported.
When emergency crews arrived on scene, all students were safely out of the bus.
Four students were injured in the accident and were transported to an area hospital.
Administrative personnel from Miami Trace arrived on scene and released students to parents who had shown up to the accident site. The remaining students were transported back to school in another bus where their parents picked them up.
Cowdery had been placed on paid administrative leave after the accident.
