School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

[Bamafan3723]

Don't know where this goes, but pray for the kids and their families. So sad.

"NewsChannel 19 is following a developing story, involving a school bus from Lee High School that flipped off I-565, below onto Church Street.

Huntsville Police have confirmed to NewsChannel 19 that four students died.

The bus was on its daily route to Drake State Technical School, when it flipped off the Interstate. More than 30 students were on board. A number of them were critically hurt. NewsChannel 19 is trying to confirm how many students, if any, were killed.

You can watch NewsChannel 19's LIVE Team Coverage by clicking on the link above this story.

Parents at the scene tell NewsChannel 19 crews their children called them from cell phones as soon as the bus hit the ground, and they rushed to the scene.

Huntsville Police are asking parents to go to Huntsville Hospital, to the cafeteria, to find out more. Hospital personnel will update you there.

Huntsville Hospital is calling all nursing staff to report to work, to help with the injured students.

Parents, please do not go to the crash site or the emergency room.

NewsChannel 19's Amber Stuart is at Huntsville Hospital, and reports at least a dozen ambulances have brought students there. They are taking the less-seriously injured students to other local hospitals, including Crestwood Medical Center, Decatur General Hospital, and Athens-Limestone Hospital.

Dr. Ann Roy Moore, superintendent of Huntsville City Schools, is at Huntsville Hospital to talk with parents.

Please do not drive near Huntsville Hospital until the scene is clear. Police are blocking off streets near the hospital, to allow ambulances to take injured victims to the emergency room as quickly as possible.

NewsChannel 19's Greg Screws reports from Lee High School that many parents are at the school, to make sure their children are there, and were not on the bus.

A district manager from the Alabama Department of Transportation is at the scene. He will check the overpass. He'll then notify the central office with his findings, and will coordinate with the Department of Public Safety.

This school bus did not have seat belts, as many buses do not.

NewsChannel 19 has a crew at the crash site, and at Huntsville Hospital. Stay with NewsChannel 19 and WHNT.com for more details as we learn them."

[SPTO]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

Yeah I saw this on CNN earlier in the day. It's stuff like that that makes me think seatbelts in school bushes should be mandatory. I don't know if it would've necessarily helped in that situation but still.

My thoughts and prayers go out to the students.

[RubenDouglas]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

very very sad.

how far down was the drop and was it water?


also, where are we coming as a society where kids have cell phones?

it wasnt the craze when I was in HS let alone middle school. now everyone has one.. i know its off topic but that baffled me. i guess its good because it was needed in this instance but thats quite the responsibility to give a little kid

[aukevin]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

What I've heard from the accident is that as of now only 2 kids were killed. They retracted the 4 person count. Also, only the bus driver had a seat belt and he's ok. Which is amazing from the photos I've seen where it looks like the bus did a nose dive into the street below. Crazy that they still haven't gotten seat belts for students in this day and age. I also heard on the news that the accident happened when the bus tried to swerve to miss a car. Where the crash was is a spot I drive on everyday to work. It's a pretty far drop down to the streets below. It's amazing that it didn't land on cars down below. It's terrible that it happened, but it could have been even worse had it been during rush hour. I know they have the interstate closed in that area until late afternoon, so I'll have to find an alternate route home. I guess I'll see the damage to the road tomorrow on the way to work.

[Beantown]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

That's sad to hear.

And having seat belts in buses wouldn't have helped because unless the driver walks up and down and personally straps everyone in...no one is going to use them anyway.

[Lintyfresh85]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

What I've heard from the accident is that as of now only 2 kids were killed. They retracted the 4 person count. Also, only the bus driver had a seat belt and he's ok. Which is amazing from the photos I've seen where it looks like the bus did a nose dive into the street below. Crazy that they still haven't gotten seat belts for students in this day and age. I also heard on the news that the accident happened when the bus tried to swerve to miss a car. Where the crash was is a spot I drive on everyday to work. It's a pretty far drop down to the streets below. It's amazing that it didn't land on cars down below. It's terrible that it happened, but it could have been even worse had it been during rush hour. I know they have the interstate closed in that area until late afternoon, so I'll have to find an alternate route home. I guess I'll see the damage to the road tomorrow on the way to work.

the radio reports said it was a 30 foot fall... I'm surprised only two kids have died so far... You would think with a 30 foot fall all of them would have died... thank goodness only 2 have died so far.

[bergie56]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

very very sad.

how far down was the drop and was it water?


also, where are we coming as a society where kids have cell phones?

it wasnt the craze when I was in HS let alone middle school. now everyone has one.. i know its off topic but that baffled me. i guess its good because it was needed in this instance but thats quite the responsibility to give a little kid

This story is very sad. I hope that the injury toll is as limited as it can be.

Why do you always have to try to make a comment on our society with every post you make? I dont see what the big deal is about high school kids having cell phones? I don't think it is a bad idea at all. It allows you to reach your kids or your kids to reach you in emergencies like this. Also they would be nice for after practices or anytime you need to be picked up. Beats having to use a payphone.

[GBrushTWood]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

You would think with a 30 foot fall all of them would have died... thank goodness only 2 have died so far.

This reminds of the Seinfeld Season 4 episode "The Trip" where Kramer is accused of being the "Smog Strangler", then while Kramer is in custody, the police find a fresh victim. Outside the courthouse, Kramer, George, and Jerry exclaim, "Another person died?" "YEAHH!!" "Another person died!!!"
Then they start dancing in a circle. Very, very funny bit.

And having seat belts in buses wouldn't have helped because unless the driver walks up and down and personally straps everyone in...no one is going to use them anyway.

At least give the kid the option of wearing it. Survival of the fittest. Give them some means to survive.

[aukevin]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

I just read that one more kid died. That's 3, all girls. One was pregnant.

[SPTO]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

And having seat belts in buses wouldn't have helped because unless the driver walks up and down and personally straps everyone in...no one is going to use them anyway.

True, but that reminds me so much of a bus driver I had in my grade school days. She wouldn't drive the bus unless everyone had their feet out of the aisle and were reasonable quiet. She kinda scared me a bit back then but now that I look back on it she probably had our best interests in mind.

It's things like caring about the students you drive and having the option of wearing a seatbelt that can save lives.

[luv_mist]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

I just read that one more kid died. That's 3, all girls. One was pregnant.

Which technically makes four. That's messed up on the real. It's hard to think about that drop. I've driven pass there a few times when I was attending Oakwood. A few of them drivers down there need to take their tests over again. I hated driving on 565. Hope that they're alright after this situation. That is clearly a rough thing to go through........

[MassNole]

Re: School bus flips off I-565 in Huntsville

My condolences to the family in what should be a season of celebration.