A school bus carrying members of Salem High School’s football program overturned in Rockdale County, Georgia, late Friday, October 23, sending 22 students and three staff members to hospitals, Rockdale County Public Schools said.
The bus was returning from an away game at Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross when it crashed near Highway 138 and Interstate 20 in Conyers. Twenty-seven people were aboard: 17 student-athletes, seven trainers, two coaches and the driver.
Cops arrived at the scene and one person was airlifted to a hospital for treatment. Authorities have not yet released details on injuries sustained by those involved.
The incident triggered a major emergency response, with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta’s Arthur M. Blank Hospital preparing for a mass-casualty event. The bus was damaged, with a shattered windshield, front end and roof.
All Hospitalized Students and Staff Have Been Released
Rockdale County Public Schools announced on Sunday, October 25, that everyone hospitalized after the crash had been released.
Staff members went to area hospitals to help families and ensure the students and adults involved were fine, the district said.
“We are deeply grateful that there were no fatalities and many have been treated and released,” Superintendent Stephanie Johnson said in a statement reported by local media.
The injured were taken to medical facilities in the Atlanta area, including Arthur M. Blank Children’s Hospital, Scottish Rite, Grady Memorial, Piedmont Rockdale, Piedmont Walton and Piedmont Newton.
The district has not released details on individual injuries “because we want to protect those involved”. Officials have also not named the students or staff members who received treatment.
Georgia State Patrol Investigated Cause of Crash
The Georgia State Patrol is investigating the circumstances of the collision.
Local media reported that the bus driver was exiting eastbound Interstate 20 and turning right onto Highway 138 when the vehicle went out of control. The bus crossed into traffic, hit a black Kia Soul and overturned on the roadside.
Both the bus driver and the Kia driver were taken to hospital. The cause of the bus driver losing control is not yet known and an investigation is ongoing.
The school district is also arranging additional counseling support at Salem High School for students and staff to help them deal with the incident.
“Additional counselors will be on campus at Salem High School to support students and staff for as long as needed,” district spokesperson Cindy Ball said.
The district has said it will continue to support the school community while those involved recover from the crash.
