On October 23, 25 students and staff were hospitalized after their school bus crashed and overturned on a Georgia highway as they returned from a football game.
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The Salem High School football team was returning from their away game against Greater Atlanta Christian School last night (Oct. 23) when the incident happened. According to Atlanta News First, a total of 27 were aboard the yellow 2025 Freightliner school bus. This includes 17 players, 7 trainers, two coaches, and also the 74-year-old driver.
The Georgia State Patrol (GSP) shed some light on the details of the wreck in a statement obtained by PEOPLE. The GSP reports that the school bus hit a Kia Soul driven by a 35-year-old man after attempting a right turn onto SR 138 after exiting I-20 eastbound. Then, they lost control of the bus.
"After impact, the Kia rotated counter-clockwise approximately 180 degrees. [It] came to a final uncontrolled rest facing south in the right northbound lane," the GSP added. "After impact with the Kia, the school bus continued off the roadway and onto the east shoulder of State Route 138. Once on the shoulder, the school bus began to overturn and rolled. The school bus nearly made 1 full rotation before coming to a final uncontrolled rest on the passenger's side, facing south."
School Bus Driver Among Those Hospitalized
25 people aboard the bus sustained injuries, requiring hospitalization.
"All students have been accounted for. Upon arriving on scene, some students had been taken for medical treatment by their parents, others were transported via ambulance, and 1 student was flown via Life Flight," the GSP detailed.
The bus driver and the Kia Soul's driver were also reportedly among those taken to the hospital.
"Thankfully, there were no casualties," Rockdale County Public Schools district (RCPSD) Chief Community Relations Officer Cindy Ball shared in a statement via Fox 5.
"Our students and staff are receiving the care they need,' she continued. "School and district staff were at area hospitals to support them and their families and to check on everyone's well-being. We will continue to share information as it becomes available."
Meanwhile, authorities launched an investigation following the incident.
"Our Troopers, officials from the school, and officials from National EMS are all working together to compile a complete list of students, injuries, and which hospital each student went to and how they were transported," the GSP explained in its news release. "Our Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) requested to assist with the investigation. [They] are currently investigating the events of the crash. Due to this crash involving a school bus, our Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division officers were also called to the scene to investigate. "
