A sudden tire failure turned a routine school trip into a harrowing ordeal Thursday when a Pine Ridge Middle School bus overturned on Interstate 77, injuring dozens of students. The afternoon accident sent the bus careening onto its side, trapping children inside until emergency crews could free them.
The scale of the response underscored the seriousness of the situation – five medical helicopters, multiple ambulances, and numerous fire trucks converged on the scene. Rescue workers used specialized tools to access the overturned bus, carefully extracting students from the wreckage. Some children had to be treated at the scene before being transported.
“I’ve never seen anything like it,” said a highway patrol officer who was among the first responders. “Those kids were incredibly brave, helping each other until we could get to them.”
Hospital officials reported that while many injuries were minor, several students suffered more serious trauma. Six remained hospitalized overnight in stable but serious condition. The two adult chaperones were treated and released.
At the school district’s emergency reunification center, emotional scenes played out as parents were reunited with their children. “I couldn’t get here fast enough,” said one mother, clutching her son. “When I saw that bus on the news…”
Authorities confirmed the bus was operated by a contracted driver who passed all required background checks. Early investigation points to a sudden tire failure as the cause, though a full mechanical inspection is underway. Superintendent Dr. Linda Holmes promised complete transparency as the investigation continues while announcing counseling services for all affected students and staff.
As the community comes to terms with the accident, attention now turns to supporting the injured children and uncovering what exactly caused this terrifying incident on what should have been an ordinary school day.
