We're on the way to Augusta after a Masters-bound shuttle bus from Atlanta crashed on I-20. 16 people injured. Troopers say the bus driver was drunk. pic.twitter.com/RoW56Vm0B5
— Richard Elliot (@RElliotWSB) April 5, 2018
We all know how hard it is to get Masters tickets. People wait years, sometimes generations even, just to get a once in a lifetime trip down to Augusta, GA to see this tournament.
Now imagine you finally get these tickets and you even have a bus tour to take you down there for the first round. You’re really doing it up, making this trip special. But instead of making it down to one of the most magical places on earth, you end up with some asshole bus driver who got boozed up at 8 in the morning and overturned the bus off I-20.
That’s what happened this morning. Here are the details from The Augusta Chronicle:
A bus crash on I-20 near mile marker 186 and Exit 185 in Columbia County injured at least nine people Thursday morning, according the Georgia State Patrol.
Around 8:45 a.m., an eastbound tour bus carrying 18 people to the Masters Tournament ran off the right side of the road, then over-corrected left and overturned in the median, according the GSP.
Seven adult passengers were transported to Augusta University Medical Center, a Level 1 trauma center, spokeswoman Denise Parrish said. Five are in serious condition and two are in fair condition, Parrish said.
Several others on the bus were transported to Doctors Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to GSP.
The driver of the bus, Steven F. Hoppenbrouwer, 61, of Gwinnett County, was charged with DUI and failure to maintain lane. The bus is owned by Jet Executive Limousine, GSP said.
Now we have 7 people in the hospital, instead of at Amen Corner eating a pimento cheese sandwich with an icy cold beer. Just an all around terrible story from top to bottom. Time to lock this alchy bus driver up for life. Not only because of the drinking and driving but because he just ruined a weekend of a lifetime for these people.
Scene of overturned tour bus on I-20 west of Augusta. The bus was just uprighted. The wreck mainly affects the EB lanes b/t Appling and Augusta. EB backed for @ 6-miles. WB delayed, too. Updates on @wsbtv Ch 2 Action News at Noon. pic.twitter.com/jDn0tjTVia
— Jason Durden (@JasonDurden) April 5, 2018
On the road toward Augusta. Tour bus carrying 19 people heading to #TheMasters flipped. Driver from Gwinnett County is being charged with DUI. Augusta University Center has received 7 patients so far. 5 in serious condition 2 in fair condition. #11Alive pic.twitter.com/f4Ds3VXiWI
— Joe Henke (@JoeHenke) April 5, 2018
