Minor Traffic Incident Involves Georgia Athletics Bus on Game Day

AUBURN, Ala. — A chartered bus carrying support staff from the University of Georgia‘s athletic department was involved in a minor traffic incident on Friday, Oct. 10, while en route to a football game.

The bus, traveling west on State Road 316, was struck by a pickup truck around 1:12 p.m. as it moved through the intersection at Jimmie Daniel Road, according to preliminary reports from the Georgia State Patrol, which is investigating the crash.

The driver of the pickup was taken to Piedmont Athens Regional hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to an email from Lt. Ed Starling sent to the Athens Banner-Herald on Friday evening. No injuries were reported among the Georgia staffers on the bus.

The bus was chartered by Champion, and after the incident, the staff planned to continue their trip on another bus. The Georgia football team was scheduled to fly out from Athens to Montgomery for their matchup against Auburn.

“We are thankful for the quick response of local law enforcement and emergency personnel,” UGA Athletics said in a statement issued Friday. “The safety of our staff is our primary concern.”

This incident occurred just before Georgia entered a critical game against Auburn, where Georgia is expected to face challenges given their recent performance, including a lack of offensive creativity.

As the teams prepared to clash in what is also known as the Deep South’s Oldest Rivalry, Georgia’s football coach Kirby Smart reflected on the significance of rivalry games, stating, “There’s obviously a longer-standing tradition with this one.”

The game, set for Saturday, Oct. 11, pits the Bulldogs against a team that has historically struggled to score against them in past matchups.