MOBILE, Ala. (WKRG) —
UPDATE (10/11) — The Mobile County Public School System has released a statement from the husband of the bus driver killed in a Thursday morning crash.
Statement from David Welch, husband of Kim Welch:
“We would like to thank the people of Mobile County for expressing sympathy to our family during this very difficult time. We have received calls from numerous reporters wanting to know about Kim. I am sharing these thoughts with you along with a request that you kindly give our family time to grieve and not contact us.
Kim was a great and loving person. She was a friend to everyone she met. She loved her children. She loved her community. She always had a smile on her face. She was never afraid to help anybody with anything. She was a wonderful mother to her three children and her step-daughter, and she was a great wife.
She was originally from Mobile. We’ve been together for more than 12 years.
She was one of the kindest people I have ever known. She would do anything for anybody.
Her hobbies included: crafting, sewing and monogramming. She loved to host jewelry parties.
She volunteered at our children’s schools. She raised livestock on our land, including chickens.
She was the woman and mother that everyone wished they had.
Our hearts are broken.
UPDATE: State troopers have released the following information on the deadly school bus crash this morning.
Alabama State Troopers are investigating a fatal crash involving a Mobile County school bus and two other vehicles. At around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 10, Brandon Barner, 22, of Panama City Beach, FL, was traveling on I-65 near the off-ramp to US 45 (exit 8) in a 2017 Nissan Altima. Barner’s vehicle struck a 2005 International bus driven by Kimberleigh Faith Welch, 32, of Wilmer. A 2019 Nissan Altima driven by Brunti Givens, 22, of Panama City Beach, FL, was also involved in the crash; all three vehicles were traveling south.
Welch was transported to University Hospital in Mobile where she succumbed to injuries sustained in the crash; neither Barner nor Givens were injured. All three drivers were the sole occupants of their respective vehicle. Barner was charged with Homicide by Vehicle and has been booked into Mobile County Metro Jail. No further information is available as troopers continue to investigate.
Alabama Law Enforcement Agency
Mobile County Public Schools posted the following statement on its Facebook page Thursday afternoon:
UPDATE (11:50 a.m.): The Alabama Education Association has confirmed the school bus driver has died.
UPDATE (9:23 a.m.) A Mobile County Public School System spokesperson has said the driver of the bus was taken to the hospital. The driver’s condition is unknown at this time.
Original story
A school bus has overturned following a crash on an I-65 southbound ramp near Highway 45 in Prichard. It looks like two other cars were involved in the crash and crime scene tape has been placed around the front of the bus. No students were on board the bus at the time of the crash. We are working to get more information this morning.
