BURKE COUNTY, N.C. — One person is fighting for their life in a Charlotte hospital after a school bus with students on board flipped over in Burke County on Tuesday morning, Burke County Schools confirmed.
The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. near Johnson Bridge Road, according to North Carolina State Highway Patrol. Troopers said the driver ran off the road, overcorrected and lost control, flipping over into a ditch.
Nine middle and high school students were on the bus when the crash happened.
An adult bus monitor was medevaced to Charlotte with serious injuries, officials said. All nine students on the bus were also hurt and taken to various hospitals for treatment. The driver was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Burke County Schools confirmed at least five of the students were released after being evaluated or treated for injuries.
The students attend multiple schools in the Burke County Schools district, including East Burke High School, Jimmy C. Draughn High School, and Hallyburton Academy.
The driver, identified as Carol Barnes of Lenoir, is being charged with failure to maintain lane control, according to Highway Patrol. WCNC Charlotte has also learned that Barnes has several traffic-related charges on her record, including one in 2021 when she was cited for speeding.
While the crash is still under investigation, parents of the students on board are looking for answers.
Shaun Cole, an employee of the gas station near where the crash occurred, told WCNC Charlotte that parents showed up confused and worried about their kids.
“All the parents ended up just standing here and kind of crying and unknowing of what happened to their kids," Cole said. “They tried to rush down to actually get to their children on the bus ... The police department wouldn’t let anyone through. So, this was about as close as you could get.”
While all the students are okay, the bus monitor is still recovering in the hospital after being airlifted.
Tuesday's crash happened just a little over a year after another bus crash on the same road. The bus driver in that case was also cited for failure to maintain lane control.
“It's just kind of crazy how often this seems to happen around here and people don't think that that road’s dangerous," Cole added.
Burke County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mike Swan issued the following response about the crash:
“We are grateful that except for some bumps and bruises the students involved in this morning’s bus incident are doing well. We will continue to provide support to them as they heal physically and emotionally.
“We also are grateful that the bus driver’s injuries appear to be minor as well. Our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the bus monitor and her family.”
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