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At Least 6 Children Die in School Bus Crash in Chattanooga At Least 6 Children Die in School Bus Crash in Chattanooga
(35 minutes later)
At least six children were killed on Monday afternoon when a school bus carrying nearly three dozen elementary school students turned over and crashed into a tree in Chattanooga, Tenn., according to local officials. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — At least six children were killed on Monday afternoon when a school bus carrying nearly three dozen elementary school students overturned and crashed into a tree in Chattanooga, according to local officials.
About two dozen of the 35 Woodmore Elementary School students on the bus were taken to Erlanger Hospital after the accident, which occurred before 3:30 p.m. about a mile from the school, Chief Fred Fletcher of the Chattanooga Police Department said on Monday night. About two dozen of the 35 Woodmore Elementary School students on the bus were taken to hospitals here after the accident, which occurred before 3:30 p.m. about a mile from the school, Chief Fred Fletcher of the Chattanooga Police Department said on Monday night.
“Our thoughts, our prayers and all of our efforts are with the families of these children and others impacted by this tragedy,” said Chief Fletcher, who described the accident as a single-vehicle crash.“Our thoughts, our prayers and all of our efforts are with the families of these children and others impacted by this tragedy,” said Chief Fletcher, who described the accident as a single-vehicle crash.
Five children died at the scene; another died at a hospital, a spokeswoman for Neal Pinkston, the Hamilton County district attorney general, said on Monday afternoon. Five children died at the scene; another died at a hospital, a spokeswoman for Neal Pinkston, the Hamilton County district attorney, said on Monday afternoon.
Chief Fletcher confirmed multiple children had died but refused to say how many, pending notification of their families. Information on the conditions of the children who were taken to the hospital was unavailable. The police were interviewing the bus driver on Monday evening and planned to review a video from the bus. Chief Fletcher confirmed multiple children had died but refused to say how many, pending notification of their families. Information on the conditions of the children who were taken to the hospital was unavailable.
The police were interviewing the bus driver on Monday evening and planned to review a video from the bus.
Road conditions at the accident site, at Howard Avenue and Talley Road, appeared to be “clear and dry,” Chief Fletcher said. He added that officials were investigating whether speed or alcohol played a role in the crash.Road conditions at the accident site, at Howard Avenue and Talley Road, appeared to be “clear and dry,” Chief Fletcher said. He added that officials were investigating whether speed or alcohol played a role in the crash.
“Certainly speed is being investigated very, very strongly,” he said, noting that the investigation was continuing. “Certainly speed is being investigated very, very strongly,” he said, noting that the investigation was continuing. The National Transportation Safety Board was sending a team to investigate.
Emergency crews worked for hours to remove the children from the bus. Students who were not taken to the hospital walked away “looking dazed with cuts on their faces,” The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.Emergency crews worked for hours to remove the children from the bus. Students who were not taken to the hospital walked away “looking dazed with cuts on their faces,” The Chattanooga Times Free Press reported.
The accident prompted an outpouring of support. On Monday night, more than a dozen cars filled the parking lot of Woodmore Elementary School, where school district employees had gathered to prepare the school for a day of grief.
Blood Assurance, a nonprofit regional blood center, extended its hours at three locations in Chattanooga in order to take additional donations. By 9 p.m., there was still a line out the door at one site. Sometime after the accident, a woman went to a nearby store and bought every stuffed animal in stock, about 50. She told employees at Woodmore, where an orange crate of plush Fuzzy Friends sat in the school office after nightfall, that she planned to return with an animal for every student by day’s end on Tuesday.
Blood Assurance, a nonprofit regional blood center, extended its hours at three locations in Chattanooga, a city of about 175,000 in southeastern Tennessee. At 9 p.m., there was still a line out the door at one site.
“The response has been enormous,” said Mindy Quinn, a spokeswoman for the center.“The response has been enormous,” said Mindy Quinn, a spokeswoman for the center.
District schools will be open on Tuesday, and guidance counselors will be available to support students, said Kirk Kelly, the interim superintendent of Hamilton County schools. “We have suffered a great loss today,” he said. Representative Chuck Fleischmann, who represents the state’s Third Congressional District, which includes Chattanooga, turned to Twitter to express his condolences to the victims. “I am absolutely heartbroken over this tragedy,” he said, “and I will pray for the children and their families.”
Parents in Hamilton County received a text message about the accident, calling it a “great tragedy,” according to The Chattanoogan.
“Extra counselors and support staff will be on hand to help students process this horrible incident,” the message read.
Representative Chuck Fleischmann, who represents the state’s Third Congressional District, which includes Chattanooga, a city of about 175,000 people in southeastern Tennessee, turned to Twitter to express his condolences to the victims. “I am absolutely heartbroken over this tragedy,” he said, “and I will pray for the children and their families.”
Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee said he was ready to provide help as needed.
“It’s a sad situation anytime there’s a school bus with children involved, which there is in this case,” Mr. Haslam said in a statement. “We will do everything we can to assist in what I think is going to be a very sad situation.”