SALYERSVILLE, Ky. — Everyone aboard a Magoffin County school bus that crashed Monday morning was injured to some extent, although not all of the injuries were serious.
During a press conference Monday afternoon to discuss the incident, Superintendent Chris Meadows told reporters that all 18 students that were on board the bus at the time of the crash, as well as the bus driver, were injured to some extent, ranging from minor cuts and bruises to more serious injuries. About five students left the scene with parents and the rest were transported to area medical facilities for treatment.
Some of those injured are considered to be in critical condition, although Meadows said patient privacy laws have hampered efforts by the school system to learn more. The superintendent did say the district has not been informed of any fatalities.
“All of these families, the students, the driver, they’re in our thoughts and prayers,” Meadows said. “This is not something you ever want to deal with as school personnel. Those kids come to us and they become our kids.”
The crash occurred as the bus #2030 was taking students to school for the day. The bus was traveling west on Route 40 when it veered off the roadway and plunged over an embankment. The bus landed on its side and was facing the opposite direction from which it was coming.
Kentucky State Police was unable to provide details about the cause of the crash, but said that information will come once the investigation is complete.
Ages of the children on the bus range from elementary to high school. Schools served by the bus include Salyersville Grade School, North Magoffin Elementary, Herald Whitaker Middle School and Magoffin County High School.
