Bus carrying high school chorus team crashes in South Carolina, injuring 17

WALTERBORO, S.C. -- Authorities say 17 people were injured, two of them in serious condition, when a charter bus carrying a high school chorus team crashed early Sunday morning, CBS affiliate WCSC-TV reports. The crash occurred around 1 a.m. local time Sunday, Colleton-Fire Rescue Chief Barry McRoy said.

The bus was carrying 30 students and adult chaperones from Beddingfield High School in Wilson, North Carolina, who were traveling back from a trip to Florida.

McRoy said the bus heading northbound ran off the left side, crossed southbound lanes and went down an embankment. He said 11 people were transported to local hospitals and that the driver was one of those listed in serious condition. Six additional students arrived later for treatment after suffering minor injuries, he said.

"They were very fortunate," McRoy told WCSC-TV. "There were two large trees near where the bus landed and if they'd gone just a few feet further over, they would have hit those trees head-on."

The Beddingfield Chorus shared a Facebook post Sunday thanking a trucker who stopped by and offered paper towels to stop any bleeding. It says the hospital opened up its cafeteria and offered to cook them breakfast.

In:
• North Carolina