A 1990 Toyota Celica driven by another Lee High student merged from the left lane to the right and accelerated to pass the bus, but his vehicle began to fishtail and became impossible to control.

[5] The NTSB report for the crash stated that the bus had nose-dived into the ground before coming to a stop.

[2] A criminal investigation into the crash was closed without charges after toxicology reports for both the bus and car drivers were found to be negative for controlled substances or alcohol.

[13] Following the crash Alabama Governor Bob Riley ordered a report be made into the issue.

A study group consisting of education and transport officials interviewed 17 expert witnesses, and in early 2007 released recommendations that a pilot program be run with lap and shoulder belts being installed in a limited number of new buses from 2008.