Multiple Children Trapped After School Bus Overturns on Return From Field Trip
A routine school field trip turned into a nightmare Tuesday afternoon when a school bus carrying more than two dozen children rolled over on a rural highway, leaving multiple students trapped inside the wreckage. The crash occurred around 3:45 p.m. as the bus was returning from a museum visit, just a few miles outside the town of Brookside.
Initial reports from local authorities indicate that the bus veered off the road after the driver apparently lost control during a curve. The vehicle then tipped onto its side, slid down an embankment, and came to rest against a tree. Several children, many between the ages of 8 and 11, were unable to exit the bus due to the wreckage blocking doors and windows.
First responders rushed to the scene within minutes of the crash, with fire crews working urgently to cut open parts of the bus to reach the trapped children. “It was chaos at first,” said one EMT who asked not to be named. “Kids were crying, some were bleeding, and several were pinned between seats and parts of the bus frame.”
Authorities confirmed that there were 27 children on board, along with two adults — the bus driver and a teacher chaperone. As of 6:00 p.m., all individuals had been removed from the wreckage. At least 12 children were transported to nearby hospitals, three of them with serious injuries. The driver also sustained injuries and was taken to the hospital but is expected to survive.
Parents were notified through emergency alerts and gathered anxiously at a local high school gymnasium that was quickly set up as a reunification center. Tearful reunions were seen between some parents and their children, while others were still waiting for updates late into the evening.
“This is every parent’s worst fear,” said Jenna Morales, whose daughter was on the bus. “She’s okay — just some cuts and bruises — but I can’t stop thinking about what could’ve happened.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation. State police are analyzing tire tracks and reviewing the driver’s record. Weather conditions were reported as dry and clear, and no other vehicles were involved in the incident. Some students reported that the bus had been swaying on the road earlier in the day, raising concerns about a possible mechanical issue.
Brookside School District released a statement saying, “We are heartbroken by today’s events. Our focus right now is on the health and safety of our students and staff. We are cooperating fully with law enforcement and will conduct a thorough review of our transportation protocols.”
Counselors are being made available to students and families affected by the crash. The district has also canceled classes for the remainder of the week.
As the investigation continues, the community of Brookside is left shaken but united in gratitude that no lives were lost — and in hope that the injured children will recover swiftly.
