School bus crash hospitalizes 18 students and driver

A school bus crashed over a roadside embankment, injuring 18 children and the diver on Monday morning.

The bus was carrying students to Magoffin County public schools in Salyersville, Kentucky. While traveling west on Kentucky Route 40, the bus somehow managed to swerve over a ditch and into an embankment, landing on its side and knocking over a utility pole.

The school the bus was headed to has not been identified, but they did confirm that the bus drives on this road every day.

The school district confirmed that all children and the driver onboard were transported to local hospitals, either by ambulance or medevac helicopter.

First responders arrive at the scene of the bus crash outside Salyersville, Kentucky (Picture: AP/WTVQ)

‘The ages ranged from elementary to high school,’ Superintendent Chris Meadows said. The bus transported students to multiple elementary schools, as well as the regional middle and high school.

Four people are still considered to be in critical condition – the driver and three children, WLEX reported. At least two of these students and the driver were thrown from the vehicle in the crash.

The driver was unable to answer questions when she was questioned by authorities about the crash.

The other students had ‘varying degrees of injuries,’ Magoffin County Schools stated.

The bus was headed to drop students off at as many as five Magoffin County schools (Picture: Facebbok/Magoffin County Schools)

Governor Andy Beshear deployed Kentucky State Police to investigate the circumstances of the crash. No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

‘We’re really in the beginning stages of the investigation,’ State Trooper Michael Coleman said.

‘Kentucky, we have some tough news,’ Governor Andy Beshear said on Twitter on Monday morning. ‘Please join me in praying for all those involved.’

‘My prayers are with the children and bus driver injured in this morning’s school bus crash,’ Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell stated shortly after the news broke. ‘Thank you to the Kentucky State Police and our other first responders for moving quickly to help those involved in the accident.’

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