Governor Justice to visit Calhoun County bus crash victims, honor hero

CALHOUN COUNTY, WV (WOWK) — Governor Jim Justice is planning to visit Calhoun County to see the people impacted by Monday’s school bus crash and honor one little girl’s bravery.

Jeffrey Brannon, 54, of Arnoldsburg, was driving the evening activity bus from Calhoun County Middle/High School when the vehicle crashed, injuring more than a dozen of the 19 students on board, two which still remain in the hospital .

Governor Justice shared his thoughts on the accident during a press briefing Wednesday, condemning the bus driver’s actions, who was found to be twice over the legal drinking limit, according to West Virginia State Police. Justice also showed his admiration for one student’s actions during Monday’s ordeal.

“There’s a little girl that we’re gonna go see and we’re gonna present her with a really special award because when all the first responders…when everybody got there you know what she was doing at first…pulling kids out of the bus and really doing everything she could to be helping those kids. She probably really saved some lives,” Justice said.

Brannon is charged with three counts of DUI causing Bodily Injury and three counts of Child Neglect resulting in Serious Injury, though more charges are expected.

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