4 students remain hospitalized after deadly Tennessee school bus crash
DECATUR, Tenn. (WMC) - Two people, including a 7-year-old girl, died Tuesday afternoon in a school bus crash in east Tennessee.
Officials with the Meigs County Department of Education gave an update on the crash in near Decatur, about six hours east of Memphis.
The crash happened on state Highway 58 in Meigs County. Investigators say the bus crashed head-on into a utility vehicle that swerved into the bus' lane. Five children were airlifted to a hospital and two others went by ambulance.
Meigs County Director of Schools Clint Baker said Wednesday four students remain hospitalized in stable condition. One of those students is stable but critical.
In addition to the 7-year-old student, the bus driver also died in the crash.
Baker said there were 33 people on the bus, including the driver, and the children ranged in ages from elementary to high school.
The youngest injured in the crash was 7, and at least one high school student was hurt, Baker said. He added when first responders arrived, they found older kids helping the younger children.
Baker said the driver worked for Meigs County schools for three years, calling her “an outstanding driver but an even better person.”
He thanked first responders and emergency personnel and said the district received well wishes and offers for help from across Tennessee.
“Just pray for our community, we’re a hurting bunch right now,” he said.
Meigs County students were not on campus Wednesday. Counselors are being made available along the bus route involved in the crash and at school.
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