A Clarksville-Montgomery County School System school bus traveling on a field trip crashed, resulting in at least two student fatalities.
STN received initial information about the Tennessee crash Friday, but details were limited at this report. Law enforcement officers are on scene in Carroll County, where the crash took place around noon Eastern Time.
“First and foremost, our hearts are with the families impacted by this devastating loss,” the Tennessee Highway Patrol released in a statement. A photo of the final resting position of the bus shows it at a steep angle, off the roadway.
Twenty-four students and five adults were on board the school bus at the time. Individuals were transported to the hospital, some via life-flight, while others were taken by ambulance. Two students were pronounced dead at the scene.
While the Tennessee Highway Patrol has not officially released the names of the students, online fundraisers and local media outlets identified the students as two eighth-grade girls: Zoe Davis and Arianna Pearson.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol stated via a press conference that in a preliminary crash investigation, the school bus collided with a Tennessee Department of Transportation dump truck and a passenger vehicle. Video of the crash shows the bus crossing the center line, veering into the other lane of traffic.
Lap/shoulder seatbelts are believed not to have been installed on the school bus. Additional information on the nature of the crash remained unknown at this time.
The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System posted on its website that the community is “grieving the tragic loss of two young lives. Please continue to keep these families in your heart,” the statement reads. “We continue to pray for the students and employees injured and everyone who was affected by today’s accident. The Kenwood Middle community will need our continued support, and we will share opportunities to assist families as details are confirmed.”
Officials noted that counselors will be available to support anyone in our school community and across the district who may need someone to talk to in the days ahead and for as long as needed.
“From the bottom of our hearts, we thank the Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Carroll County School District, First Baptist Church of Huntingdon, TN, and the numerous other law enforcement, emergency medical, and community organizations and volunteers from across the state who have provided tremendous support during this tragedy,” the statement continued.
The article was updated to indicate the crash did not take place during Spring Break. It will continue to be updated as more information is available.
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