Two students were killed and several others were injured Friday when a school bus collided with multiple vehicles in west Tennessee. The crash happened around noon on Highway 70 in Carroll County and involved a school bus, a Chevrolet Trailblazer and a Tennessee Department of Transportation dump truck, the Associated Press reported.Officials said preliminary findings indicate that while the dump truck was present at the scene, it may not have directly caused the collision.
Students are on a field trip
The bus was carrying 25 students and five adults from Kenwood Middle School in Clarksville. The group was en route to a field trip to Jackson, Tennessee, when the accident occurred, according to a statement from the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System.Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the accident.
casualties
At a news conference, Tennessee Highway Patrol spokesman Maj. Travis Ploser confirmed the deaths of the two students and described the incident as a “parent’s worst nightmare.”At least seven people were injured, with several victims airlifted to nearby hospitals. Four people were admitted to Vanderbilt Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital in Nashville and were reported to be in stable condition.Additionally, 19 people were transported to Carroll County Baptist Memorial Hospital, where they were evaluated and later released. It was unclear how many of them were seriously injured.
School community shocked
The tragedy has left the school community in mourning. In a message to families, principal Karen Miller called the incident an “unimaginable tragedy” and urged parents to emotionally support their children during this difficult time.Counseling services will be available for students and staff starting Monday.In her message, Miller called for unity and compassion, saying, “Please continue to join us in praying for our students, families, faculty and staff.”She added that the strength of the school community is critical in helping everyone cope with loss and trauma.Authorities continue to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the crash. More details are expected as the investigation progresses.
