Officials reported that a school bus overturned in North Carolina on Tuesday morning, airlifting one person to a hospital and treating 10 others for non-life-threatening injuries.
According to the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, the incident occurred about 7:30 a.m. local time on Tuesday when the driver of the Burke County school bus “lost control, ran off the right side of the road, struck a ditch, and overturned” before coming to a stop on its top.
The bus was carrying nine youngsters and two adults when it crashed.
The bus partially stuck one of the passengers, who required airlifting to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte in critical condition.
The nine children were transported to nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries, and the driver was also treated for minor injuries, according to the NCSHP.
The 51-year-old bus driver received a citation from the police for failing to maintain lane control.
The bus provides handicapped transportation and serves several schools in the Burke County District. Burke County Public Schools did not immediately reply to USA TODAY’s request for comment or additional information.
The school district told local media that at least five of the pupils had been released after being evaluated or treated for injuries.
“We are grateful that, except for some bumps and bruises, the students involved in this morning’s bus incident are doing well,” Burke County Public Schools superintendent Mike Swan told WBTV. “We will continue to help them as they recover physically and mentally. We’re also happy that the bus driver’s injuries appear to be mild. We continue to pray for the bus monitor and her family.”
