Horry County Schools Settles with Family of Bus Crash Victim

The Horry County Schools (HCS) has recently agreed to a settlement amount of $565,000 payable to the family of a Nichols man, Kody Roach, who was tragically killed in a bus accident in 2022. This agreement follows a wrongful death claim filed by the representative of Roach’s estate against HCS.

An Overview of the Fatal Crash Incident in October 2022

The fatal accident occurred on the morning of October 3, 2022, involving a school bus owned by the Horry County School District and a Chevrolet pickup truck belonging to Roach. The incident took place at the intersection of Cedar Branch Road and S.C. Highway 9, approximately 6 miles outside Loris.

The school bus, driven by a substitute bus driver Wanda McCray, was making a left turn onto S.C. Highway 9. The rear section of the bus, parked in the median crossover, was blocking part of the highway. Roach, who was driving south on S.C. 9, collided with the bus. The impact of the crash resulted in Roach’s demise.

The Contributing Factors of the Crash

An S.C. Highway Patrol report suggests that both Roach and McCray played a part in the unfortunate accident. The report outlines that Roach was driving at an excessive speed, 78 mph in a 60-mph zone, and was not fully attentive at the time of the crash. McCray was operating as a substitute driver during this incident. According to the school district’s spokesperson, Lisa Bourcier, McCray is no longer driving for HCS.

Details on the Settlement

The court documents indicate that Roach’s estate will receive a sum of $565,000 from The Insurance Reserve Fund, which provides liability insurance to the school district. Although acknowledging the tragic accident, the settlement agreement does not admit negligence on the part of HCS that led to Roach’s death. The school district approved the settlement “in the interest of compromise,” as per the court documents.

Alongside this, Roach’s estate will receive an additional $50,000 from the USAA Casualty Insurance Company. The latter was Roach’s provider of underinsured motorist coverage at the time of the incident. The court deemed the settlement fair and in the best interests of all involved parties.

Implications for Students on the Bus

At the time of the accident, seven students were on the bus, all enrolled at the HCS Early College High School. None of these students suffered injuries in the crash. Following the incident, counseling services were made available by the school.