Chaos erupted on Interstate 77 Thursday when a school bus carrying Pine Ridge Middle School students flipped onto its side after a dramatic tire failure. The 3 p.m. accident, which occurred as the bus returned from a field trip, triggered a massive emergency response and left multiple children injured.
First responders arriving at the scene found a nightmarish tableau – the bus lying on its side, surrounded by frantic parents and good Samaritans who had stopped to help. Rescue crews worked methodically to extract students, some of whom were pinned beneath seats. The most seriously injured were airlifted to nearby trauma centers.
“I heard this enormous bang, then saw the bus swerve and tip over,” recounted a truck driver who witnessed the crash. “I pulled over immediately and ran to help. Those poor kids were so scared.”
At local hospitals, medical teams treated injuries ranging from minor cuts to broken bones and concussions. Six students remained hospitalized in serious condition overnight, while the adult chaperones were treated and released. The school district established an emergency reunification center where tearful families were reunited.
Superintendent Dr. Linda Holmes praised the quick actions of first responders and bystanders, noting their efforts likely prevented greater tragedy. The contracted bus driver, who emerged unscathed, is cooperating fully with investigators examining whether mechanical failure or other factors caused the accident.
As the community processes this traumatic event, the school has canceled classes and arranged counseling services. Meanwhile, state and federal investigators have begun the painstaking work of determining exactly what went wrong – and how to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
