Volleyball Team Bus Plunges Down Embankment; 14 Hurt

Volleyball Team Bus Plunges Down Embankment; 14 Hurt
A school bus from a file photo. (Russell Contreras/AP)
Victor Westerkamp
8/28/2019
Updated:
8/28/2019

A school bus crashed down a wooded embankment in North Carolina, leaving 14 people injured—mostly girls from a high school volleyball team.

The bus was on its way back to Caroleen from Mitchell County after the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy’s volleyball team played a match.

The accident happened on N.C. 226 near the intersection of U.S. 221, north of Marion. The bus went off the Coxes Creek Mountain road and plunged 30 feet at around 8:50 p.m., on Aug. 26.

Among those injured were the bus driver, two trainers, and 11 players. One injured person had to be airlifted to Mission Hospital. The remaining injured people were transported to local hospitals.

None of the victims were in critical condition, McDowell County Emergency Management Director William Kehler said, WLOS-TV reported.

“It’s truly a miracle something like this happening and this being the result. We are truly blessed,” Kehler said.

Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy High School posted a statement on Facebook:

“We are writing to share some unfortunate news. Last evening, on their return trip from a match at Mitchell High School, our volleyball team was involved in a bus accident. A number of our players, two of our coaches, and our bus driver were injured in the accident, but we are grateful that no life-threatening injuries are being reported at this time.

“We will update our community as soon as we have more information.

“In the meantime, we ask that you keep these girls, their coaches, the bus driver, and their families in your thoughts and prayers.”

The  Mitchell High School Volleyball team also posted a comment to Twitter: “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy Volleyball team, the students, faculty, and families for the bus accident that happened tonight on the way home from a match.”

The cause of the accident has yet to be determined.

Two months ago, a similar crash occurred in Colorado, NTD reported.

Crash Involving Colorado Bus Carrying Church Group Kills 2, Leaves 13 Injured

On June 23, two members of a church group from Albuquerque died after their charter bus struck a bridge support and veered off into a ditch while driving on Colorado I-25, officials said.

Five adults and 10 children, associated with a Catholic church group called the Aquinas Newman Center in Albuquerque, were on their way home after having attended the Steubenville Youth Conference in Denver.

The accident happened on southbound I-25 about 10 miles north of Pueblo, at approximately 2:30 p.m.

One of the two killed was the 22-year-old bus driver, The Pueblo Chieftain reported.

The other 13 passengers all suffered injuries with seven sustaining minor injuries and six listed in critical condition, Colorado State Patrol reported.