Video from inside a Metro Atlanta Transit bus shows the moments a driver fell asleep at the wheel and crashed into a tree with passengers inside.
Three people were injured, and the driver faces traffic violation charges.
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The video shows the driver struggling to stay awake on Monday, Sept. 7. An automated message appears to wake him up after he missed a green turn signal around 11:07 a.m.
The bus driver then continued on his way.
"If you drive professionally all the time, it's very easy for your body to just slip into sleep," explained Joshua Schiffer, an attorney.
Less than 10 minutes later, his hands are off the wheel as he appears to doze off again. Within seconds he's crossing lanes, veering off the road and crashing into trees.
Schiffer said investigators have a lot to look at.
"We are always looking for sleep issues when you see an accident of this type because it's surprisingly common for drivers to lose consciousness, as frightening as that is, due to the regularity of what they do for a living," he said.
In a statement, Dunwoody police confirmed the driver fell asleep before failing to regain control.
They said the driver is now facing charges of distracted driving and failure to maintain lane but have not released his identity.
The two passengers on board both reported injuries.
One was tossed across the bus as the crash took place, and the other grabbed his back as it came to a stop.
"In most of these cases, the injured parties will be able to pursue a successful claim if it is determined that the driver caused the accident due to their own negligence and a medical incident," Schiffer said.
In a statement, the transit system said the safety of its riders and employees is its highest priority.