School Bus Falls off I-565 Overpass

Earlier this morning a local school bus overturned and fell off one of the I-565 overpasses.  There were about 20 students on board, and there are a great deal of serious injuries.  The local news has gone completely schizophrenic, but it appears very likely that there are multiple fatalities.

The students attended Lee High School, which my fiance Morgon and her sister attended.  From watching the news, Morgon is pretty sure she new some of them.

Please, everybody, keep these young people in your thoughts and prayers.  They need all the help they can get.

Update [12:13]: As of right now, local news is claiming four confirmed deaths, two of them students.  One of those students wan an 18 year old pregnant girl.  More as I know it.

Update [12:25]: Our local NBC affiliate has conflicting reports that students have been taken to Crestwood hospital and to Huntsville Hospital, both of the major hospitals in town.  This probably means that they've been taken to both - 20 students is a lot of injuries, and it's very possible that they spread the load out for the good of the patients.  Also, Governor Riley has released a statement:

"This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and I know I speak for all Alabamians when I say our thoughts and prayers are with the accident victims and their families.  I've spoken with Mayor Spencer and offered Huntsville any and all assistance the state can provide.  State troopers are on the scene, and teams from the Alabama Department of Transportation and the Alabama Emergency Management Agency have been dispatched to provide help."

MSNBC has the story up now as well, but they're currently running the exact same AP story as CNN.  I've posted the link anyway because it might update later with more information.

Update [12:31]: Local prayer vigils are scheduled for this afternoon and evening:

Phillips CME Church: 3:00 PM

Draper Memorial Church of God in Christ: 6:00 PM

Christian Union Church of God: 6:00 PM

Update [12:37]: Both MSNBC and CNN now report that there were 34 students on board and 23 of them have been taken to local hospitals for injuries.

Update [12:52]: Our local CBS affiliate is now reporting that I-565 between Oakwood Avenue and Memorial Parkway will be closed until approximately 5:00 PM.

Update [1:31]: I just caught a portion of a press conference our chief of police is holding right now on the TV in the break room.  Currently, there are two confirmed dead (not the four I mentioned earlier), with several students still in critical condition.  It appears that the bus was cut off by another vehicle (possibly another student), swerved to miss, hit the barrier rail, and flipped over the edge. The NTSB is sending a team in for a full investigation, however, and there are not a lot of details to release at this time.

Update [1:42]: The list of prayer vigils is growing.  WAFF 48 (NBC) has a list here, and WHNT 19 (CBS) has a list here.

Update [2:27]: CNN now reports that there were 43 students on the bus. MSNBC still says 34, and the local news is now just saying "more than 30".

Update [3:36]: CNN is now reporting that a third student has died from injuries.  Also, I've added this post to today's OTB Linkfest.

Update [4:15]: Local reports confirm the third student's death.  Also, I know of at least two assistance funds that have been set up to help injured students, but I don't have any details yet.  I will post them when I know.  Morgon and I will be going to the prayer vigil at St. Mary's of the Visitation at 7:30 tonight.

Update [5:24]: HPD has released a preliminary accident report.  Apparently the accident was the result of a two vehicle collision.  Police have interviewed the driver of the other vehicle and to students and the driver of the bus.  Westbound I-565 has been reopened, but the exit ramp from I-565 west to Memorial Parkway will be closed indefinitely as the investigation continues.

Both of the assistance funds I mentioned earlier appear to be set up at Redstone Federal Credit Union, which  leads me to think they're actually the same fund.  Locals can make contributions at an RFCU location.  If they get phone or web donations setup, I'll post a link here.

Comments

[Steve Imparl]

This is sad. May all the students recover soon and may their families be consoled.