LIVE NEWS MADISON COUNTY :Jackson band 2 teacher dies in crash with 5 student school bus
Michael Congiardo, band director at Madison Academic Magnet High School, died from injuries sustained when his car hit a school bus Friday afternoon, school officials said. No students were on the bus, and no one else was injured in the accident.
Becky Fly knew Congiardo through teaching at Madison.
“He was well respected and a wonderful teacher,” Fly said. “He was so proud of his band, and he will certainly be missed.”
Fly teaches theater at Madison.
“He gave his students self-esteem he instilled in them through their accomplishments,” she said. “I know he was very happy at Madison. We need to count every day as a blessing.”
Jackson-Madison County School System officials said Congiardo died Friday evening due to internal injuries from the accident.
“Our hearts and prayers are with his family and the faculty and students at Madison Academic,” school system spokeswoman Ginger Carver said in an e-mail.
The cause of the accident remains under investigation, and a police report was not available Friday evening.
Congiardo’s car hit Bus 28 at the intersection of North Royal Street and Lane Avenue about 4 p.m. after the car went through a red light, Carver said.
Congiardo was taken to the hospital by ambulance, after emergency workers cut the car open to get him out.
Dr. Keith Taylor, a Jackson physician who saw part of the accident, said Congiardo’s car initially hit a chain-link fence near Oman Arena moments before the collision with the bus.
I asked him if he was all right,” Taylor said. “He told me he was, and then he shot down the street and ran a red light.”
Congiardo was headed east on Lane Avenue before colliding with the bus, which was going south on North Royal Street.
Cassandra Berry, who lives on Lane Avenue, saw Congiardo’s car hit the fence near Oman Arena.
The next thing, he ran into the bus,” Berry said. “I heard the noise, and I wondered what was wrong.”
According to Congiardo’s profile on Madison Academic’s website, he had more than 20 years of experience as a teacher.
He earned his bachelor of music education degree from Murray State University in Kentucky and his master of music (saxophone performance) from the University of Alabama.
He also was a graduate of Adamsville High School, according to his Facebook page.
The next thing, he ran into the bus,” Berry said. “I heard the noise, and I wondered what was wrong.”
According to Congiardo’s profile on Madison Academic’s website, he had more than 20 years of experience as a teacher.
He earned his bachelor of music education degree from Murray State University in Kentucky and his master of music (saxophone performance) from the University of Alabama.
He also was a graduate of Adamsville High School, according to his Facebook page.
