School Bus Hits Home at Shillings Bridge Rd in Orangeburg Co., SC

Orangeburg County, SC (August 18, 2026) – Eighteen students were hospitalized early Tuesday morning, August 18, after a school bus carrying 42 children ran off the roadway and crashed into a home at the intersection of Shillings Bridge Road and Mill Branch Road in Orangeburg County.

As the South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers reported, the 2023 Thomas school bus was traveling westbound on Shillings Bridge Road when the driver attempted to turn left onto Mill Branch Road, ran off the road, and collided directly with a mobile home.

Emergency response personnel evaluated all 42 students at the scene. While authorities reported no major injuries, 18 students were transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital for comprehensive medical evaluation.

State troopers are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision.

Our thoughts are with the injured children and their families during their recovery.

What Rights Do Parents Have After a School Bus Collision in Orangeburg County, SC?

After a school bus collision in Orangeburg County, SC, parents have the legal right to file personal injury claims on behalf of their minor children to recover financial compensation for medical expenses, ongoing treatment, and pain and suffering from responsible parties under South Carolina law and the South Carolina Tort Claims Act.

When a public school bus is involved in an accident in South Carolina, legal claims against the school district or governmental operating agency are governed by the South Carolina Tort Claims Act.

This statute outlines specific procedures, shorter filing deadlines, and statutory liability limits for recovering damages caused by state or local government employees operating within the scope of their employment. Parents and legal guardians hold the right to file personal injury claims on behalf of their minor children to recover compensation for emergency room care, hospital evaluations, follow-up medical visits, and physical pain and suffering.

Under South Carolina’s modified comparative fault law, an injured party can seek financial recovery as long as their assigned responsibility for the accident is 50 percent or less, a threshold naturally met by child passengers.

Investigating school bus accidents involves securing official South Carolina Highway Patrol collision reports, analyzing vehicle black box telemetry, inspecting mechanical components, and reviewing driver training records.

An experienced personal injury lawyer can assist impacted families by handling government claim requirements, assessing insurance coverage options, and pursuing full legal accountability in accordance with South Carolina law.

Our team at The Arndt Law Firm is available to talk through your options. We can explain how South Carolina's comparative negligence rules and government claim procedures apply to your specific case.

Contact The Arndt Law Firm at (843) 310-4645 to learn more and get your questions answered today.

Note: This post has been prepared using information gathered from publicly available secondary sources. The details of the incident have not been independently verified. If you notice any inaccuracies, please contact The Arndt Law Firm so we can promptly review and update the content to ensure accuracy and reliability.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or medical advice. This content does not create an attorney-client relationship and does not constitute a solicitation for legal services. If you have been injured in an accident, you should seek immediate medical attention. Any photographs included in this post are for illustrative purposes only and do not depict the actual scene of the accident.