Early Thursday morning, a serious incident unfolded on North Hairston Road in Stone Mountain when a passenger vehicle struck a utility pole, causing power lines to fall directly onto a DeKalb County school bus. The crash occurred at 667 N. Hairston Road just after 6 a.m., prompting an immediate emergency response from DeKalb County Fire Rescue and Georgia Power crews. Two adults and one student remained trapped inside the school bus while utility workers carefully removed the energized power lines from the vehicle. The dangerous situation required a coordinated effort between first responders and power company personnel to ensure the safe extraction of all occupants. The driver of the passenger vehicle that struck the pole sustained minor injuries in the collision. By approximately 7 a.m., Georgia Power had successfully cleared the downed lines, and the school bus was towed from the scene. The incident caused significant disruption to morning traffic patterns in the area as emergency crews worked to secure the scene and restore power infrastructure.

Location and Infrastructure

North Hairston Road serves as a key thoroughfare in the Stone Mountain area of DeKalb County, connecting residential neighborhoods with commercial districts and schools. The 667 N. Hairston Road location sits in a mixed-use area where morning school bus routes intersect with commuter traffic during peak hours. The presence of utility poles along this corridor is typical for the area's infrastructure, though collisions with fixed objects like power poles present serious hazards, particularly when they result in downed electrical lines. Stone Mountain, located in the eastern portion of DeKalb County, experiences heavy morning traffic as residents commute toward metropolitan Atlanta. The roadway serves multiple DeKalb County schools, making school bus safety a critical concern during morning and afternoon hours. Weather conditions, visibility, and driver attention are all factors that contribute to roadway safety along this route.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Under Georgia law, accidents involving school buses receive heightened scrutiny due to the vulnerability of child passengers and the state's commitment to student transportation safety. Individuals injured in accidents involving downed power lines may have claims against multiple parties, including negligent drivers and potentially utility companies if infrastructure maintenance issues contributed to the incident. Georgia operates under a modified comparative negligence system, where injured parties can recover damages if they are less than 50% at fault for the accident. Victims typically have two years from the date of injury to file personal injury claims under O.C.G.A. § 9-3-33. Available compensation may include medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage. Parents of injured students should document all medical treatment and maintain communication with school district officials regarding the incident. Given the complexity of accidents involving public transportation and utility infrastructure, consulting with an attorney experienced in Georgia traffic accident cases is advisable to protect one's legal rights. 

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• DeKalb County Fire Rescue: 911 (emergency) / (404) 294-2600 (non-emergency)
• DeKalb County Police Department: (404) 294-2911
• Georgia Power Emergency Line: 1-888-891-0938

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT): www.dot.ga.gov
• DeKalb County School District Transportation: (678) 676-0900
• Governor's Office of Highway Safety: www.gahighwaysafety.org

Support Services:

• DeKalb County Victim Assistance: (404) 371-2444
• Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program: 1-800-547-0060

Legal and Regulatory Information:

• Official Code of Georgia Annotated (Traffic Laws): law.justia.com/codes/georgia
• Georgia Department of Driver Services: dds.georgia.gov