A charter bus with 42 high school students on board visiting Eastern Kentucky University crashed on Interstate 64 today around 2:30 EDT. 30 of the Waggener High sophomores and juniors on board were hospitalized, as well as the bus driver and 4 adult chaperones.
The bus was on its way west from the university campus in Richmond to the high school in Louisville. While the cause of the crash remains unclear at this time, no other vehicles were involved, and all westbound lanes of I-64 were closed as a result. A secondary accident in the eastbound lanes apparently caused the injuries of 1 of the 30 hospitalized students.
Those hospitalized had minor to moderate injuries for the most part, but a few were in critical condition. Pictures show the front end of the bus crumpled into the ground, and according to the Courier-Journal.com, Kristin Miller of the Metro EMS has received reports of a blown tire.
School improvement grants funded 73 students to go on the field trip in 2 buses, a program giving students the opportunity to visit different college campuses, the AP.com reports. At least 8 ambulances and 5 hospitals were involved.
For footage and images of the crash site, see Courier-Journal.com