PHOTOS: Speed under investigation in Nashville bus crash that injured at least 23
NASHVILLE, Tenn.---A school bus filled with Chester County High School students has crashed and rolled over on I-65 at Briley Parkway.
The Nashville Fire Department says there are 23 injuries, two are reportedly critical but stable. The Nashville Fire Department says they are transporting 23 total patients involved in the crash. All 23 injured are students. They are being transported to Skyline Medical Center and Vanderbilt University Medical Center for treatment.
This evening the Chester County School system released this statement regarding the bus accident:
"I first received notice from high school administration of one of three school buses involved in an accident en route to Nashville for Beta Convention. The bus involved in the accident contained 43 students, primarily 11th and 12th grade students and two chaperones. One sophomore student was also riding the bus involved.
The one bus involved in the accident turned over at Exit 90B @ I-65 entering into Briley Parkway. The accident involved only the one bus and appeared to be a loss of control by the bus driver at the exit. The school bus will be examined next week by THP officials to determine if any other issues (mechanical or structural) contributed to the bus driver losing control and overturning the bus onto the side. The bus has been in use for approximately one year and all buses must pass inspections by THP officials before transporting students.
23 students were transported to medical facilities in Nashville by ambulance at the scene of the accident. All 43 students were checked by Emergency Medical Personnel on the scene also and after, the other 20 students on the bus were transported to area hospitals for further examination. The majority of the students on the bus were released either into the care of their parents or returned to the location of the other students not involved in the accident and later returned to Henderson. The high school BETA club will not be attending the BETA Convention due to this event and reimbursements of hotel costs have already been negotiated with efforts to refund the BETA Convention registration costs by school administration.
Based on reports from Nashville EMT, two students injuries were considered “critical”, but no students’ injuries were deemed as life threatening. At this time, I am aware of approximately 10 students that sustained injuries ranging from concussions to broken arms. All students who are currently in hospital settings at this time are also in the care of their families.
At 2:30pm today, the buses and students not involved in the accident started their return trip back to Henderson. At 5:00pm, the spare bus that was driven to the police precinct that students and staff were located started their return trip back to Henderson with all students still in Nashville in the care of their parents. School staff and administration at the high school are currently in Nashville at hospitals to provide support and prayers for those students and families treated there.
The bus driver of the bus has not sustained serious injury and the bus involved in the accident will be inspected by Tennessee Highway Patrol to determine if mechanical problems could be a cause. The bus driver has been working as a bus driver for Chester County Schools since the start of this school year and has had no other event of accident while serving as a bus driver.
I am extremely appreciative of several groups that have supported our efforts to get our students cared for during this accident and after, home safe. Of those groups that I would like to mention are Nashville Fire Department, Nashville Emergency Medical Services, Vanderbilt Hospitals (adult and pediatric), Skyline Hospital, St. Thomas Midtown Hospital, and Centennial Hospital, Nashville Police Department, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Nashville Metro Public School System, Tennessee Department of Education and Nashville Mayor’s office. Not to mention local school district employees, CCHS administration and staff, local law enforcement who has provided support by either driving to Nashville to care for our students or those who stepped in to fill in gaps of work necessary for others needing to travel to Nashville. It would have been extremely difficult to have had as much valuable communication and care of our students as was provided by those in the Nashville area. We are extremely blessed!
Thanks to all prayers, messages of encouragement and support for the students, families, CCHS staff, administration and CC District staff involved with this accident.
If any have further questions or concerns, please contact the Chester County Board of Education office at (731) 989-5134 or contact me via email at Troy.kilzer@chestercountyschools.org. "
Nashville Fire crews said quick, coordinated efforts saved lives in the crash:
The driver of the bus involved in the accident is Christina Mathis, 28, of Henderson, Tennessee. Metro Police said they are investigating speed as a possible contributing factor in the crash. According to a report from the Tennessee Department of Homeland Security. Mathis was involved in another crash in August.
NFD says most of the injuries are not serious. The most-serious injury appears to be a broken collarbone.
Per the Chester County Director of Schools, the students were on the bus for a trip to Opryland at the time of the crash.
We have several crews working the incident and will update here and on social media platforms. SEE BELOW or CLICK HERE.
