South Carolina Bus Crash Leaves 21 People Hospitalized

A bus crash in South Carolina on Oct. 19 left 21 people hospitalized, although some early reports said fewer people were injured.

The Abbeville County School District school bus crashed into a wooded area in Greenwood around 1:20 p.m., striking a utility pole and fence before going down an embankment.

The bus was returning from a field trip and carrying 30 fourth-graders and five adults, including the driver, back to Westwood Elementary School. It was traveling south on Highway 25.

The 21 patients were rushed to different area hospitals, some being airlifted. Another bus picked up the children who weren’t injured and returned them to school, reported Fox.

Early reports indicated that fewer people were injured, including nine students. WSPA reported that 13 were injured, citing the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Abbeville County School District Superintendent Betty Jo Hall told the outlet that none of the students were in critical condition.

WYFF reported that 16 children and two adults, including the driver, were being treated at Self Regional Hospital, according to Self Regional Healthcare Media Relations Director Mark Hyatt. In addition, two adults were taken to Greenville Memorial Hospital and one student was taken to the GHS Children’s Hospital.

Derek Kinney, Greenwood County director of Emergency Management Services told the Index-Journal that three people were in critical condition and they were airlifted to the hospitals.

“Parents have been notified at least twice at this point and we are sending a bus to pick up the children who were not transported,” Hall added to the Index-Journal. “I’m trying to stay calm and make sure we get the children back safely.”

A reunification center was set up at the nearby Army National Guard Armory.

“We take the kids in and we put them somewhere secure. We have law enforcement here as well as mental health support and teachers, that kind of thing,” said Kinney. “They’re all clearly shaken.”

Investigation Into Cause

Hall told The State that it wasn’t clear what caused the crash.

“Our priorities are with the students and staffs and making sure the children get home safe to their parents,” Hall said.

The driver of the bus, a 56-year-old woman, was one of the injured and taken to the hospital.

The highway patrol was investigating the cause of the crash.

Aiden Baysdon, a student on the bus, told WYFF that he was talking with a friend when the bus started bouncing.

“I did get a knot on my head and a cut on my eyelid,” Baysdon said.