A passenger injured when a charter bus crashed on the way to the Masters golf tournament says he's thankful "everybody's alive."
Doctors Hospital in Augusta released video Thursday evening of Kip Plowman describing the crash as he waited in the emergency room to have broken glass removed from his hand.
Plowman said the bus careened off the road and spun around one and a half times before skidding on its side a good distance. He said the bus was filling up with smoke as he climbed through a window above his head.
Plowman said he felt badly for other injured passengers as well as for Masters ticketholders stuck on Interstate 20 as it was shut down after the crash. He said: "It's not the way we planned the day."
The hospital said it was treating nine passengers — including one in critical condition — who were injured when a charter bus overturned.
Sgt. Chris Wright of the Georgia State Patrol said 18 passengers were riding the bus from Atlanta to Augusta for the first round of the Masters. The driver, 61-year-old Steven F. Hoppenbrouwer, was charged with driving under the influence.
Passengers told investigators the driver veered off the roadway twice before he swerved a third time and caused the bus to overturn.
One passenger told troopers he had decided before the crash: "I'm not riding back with him. I'll call an Uber."
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