A school bus carrying students to Pine Ridge Middle School in South Carolina overturned on Thursday, April 17At least one person has died, and five people are in critical condition following the accidentThe South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, according to reports
At least one person has died and five are in critical condition after a school bus overturned on a South Carolina highway, according to multiple news outlets.
On Thursday, April 17, a school bus carrying around 35 students and two adults was returning from a field trip outside Charlotte, North Carolina, to Pine Ridge Middle School, when a tire blew off on Interstate 77 in Chester County, ABC News and the local outlet Wis10 reported.
The Chester County Sheriff’s Office told the outlets they received reports of the crash at around 1:47 p.m. local time.
The bus was traveling southbound on I-77 when it “traveled off of the road to the right, struck a guard rail and overturned,” said South Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt. Tyler Tidwell, according to ABC News.
One occupant of the bus died, Tidwell added to the outlet. He did not provide any further information on the fatality.
Multiple passengers were trapped inside the bus as the vehicle overturned, door side down, according to local outlet News 19 WLTX. A spokesperson for the Chester County Sheriff’s Office added that there were “multiple injuries” and those affected were transported to the hospital.
Footage shared by WSOCTV9 showed helicopters and EMS crews arriving at the scene, while traffic was diverted amid road closures.
“We are grateful for the support of our EMS, first responders, and law enforcement partners, both those based here locally and those up the road at the affected Interstate 77 sites,” the school district said in a statement, per ABC News. “They worked tirelessly today to assist our Lexington Two students, families, and employees.”
The Chester County Sheriff’s Office said in a post on X that the Lexington County School District 2 School Bus was one of three traveling from the field trip.
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School bus (stock image).
Mint Images/Getty
The school district said the other two buses were able to maneuver to avoid the accident, per ABC News.
“Today’s school bus accident in Chester County is a tragedy no family should ever have to endure,” said South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster on Facebook. “Please join us in praying for the victim, their family, a speedy recovery for those injured, and the entire Lexington Two community. All of South Carolina is with you.”
Chester County Sheriff’s Office, South Carolina Highway Patrol, and Lexington County School District didn’t immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment on Friday.
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