Baldwin Regional Area Transit System (BRATS) and Bay Minette Police Department Assist Youth Group from Smryna, Tennessee
On Friday, June 23, 2023, around 2:30 p.m. Baldwin Regional Area Transit System (BRATS)
received a call from Bay Minette Police Corporal, Paul Adams requesting support with
transporting a church youth group to their final destination after being stranded on Hwy. 59
South of Bay Minette due to their bus catching fire.
The church youth group of 49 passengers was traveling from Smryna, Tennessee to the Gulf
Shores Christian Retreat on West Beach Blvd. when the incident occurred. Corporal Adams was
concerned with the safety of the students due to the traffic and excessive heat, and asked BRATS
for assistance.
Three BRATS buses operated by Ron Stewart, fleet and driver manager, Joy Callaway, driver
supervisor, and Joey Braswell, mechanic, were dispatched to assist the youth group and
successfully arrived at the retreat by 5:30 p.m. despite the heavy beach traffic.
The group was appreciative of the cooperative efforts displayed by BRATS and the Bay Minette
Police Department.
