School Bus Accident
A devastating school bus crash has claimed the life of one student and left dozens of others injured after a bus carrying middle school students from Charlotte overturned on a South Carolina highway Thursday afternoon.
According to officials, the school bus was returning from a field trip to the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia when it suffered a tire blowout and rolled over on Interstate 77, just south of Rock Hill, South Carolina. The crash occurred around 4:15 p.m., during the return leg of what began as a routine educational outing.
The bus was carrying students from Ridgeview Middle School, part of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools district. In total, 43 students and four adults, including the driver and three chaperones, were onboard when the incident occurred. Authorities have confirmed that one student was killed in the crash and more than two dozen others were transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to serious trauma.
Chaos and Heroism at the Scene
Witnesses described a chaotic scene on the highway, with the overturned bus resting on its side in a ditch off the road. Some passersby stopped to help pull students from the wreckage while waiting for emergency services to arrive. Parents of students on the trip received calls from the school shortly after the crash, prompting frantic scenes at hospitals across the region as families sought information.
Paramedics, firefighters, and police responded swiftly, dispatching multiple ambulances and two medical helicopters to transport the most severely injured. Local hospitals including Piedmont Medical Center, Atrium Health Pineville, and Levine Children’s Hospital treated patients well into the evening.
Dr. Angela Carter, superintendent of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, expressed the community’s sorrow at a press conference Thursday night. “This is a heartbreaking day for our district. We are mourning the loss of a bright young student, and we are holding every injured child and their family in our hearts. We are committed to supporting our students, staff, and families in the days and weeks to come.”
What Went Wrong?
While the investigation is still in its early stages, South Carolina Highway Patrol officials say the crash appears to have been caused by a front tire blowout, which caused the driver to lose control. The bus veered off the highway, overturned, and slid down a grassy embankment. No other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Authorities are examining the maintenance records of the bus, which was operated by a third-party transportation company contracted by the school district. The driver, who sustained minor injuries, is cooperating fully with investigators. Drug and alcohol testing is standard protocol in such incidents, though there is no indication at this time that impairment played a role.
A preliminary report is expected in the coming days, with a full investigation led by the South Carolina Highway Patrol’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT), alongside federal transportation safety officials.
Community in Mourning
By Thursday evening, a vigil was already being organized at Ridgeview Middle School, where hundreds of parents and community members gathered in shock and grief. Candles were lit, prayers were offered, and counselors were made available to provide emotional support.
Principal Melanie Ross, speaking outside the school, said, “Our students are more than names on a roster — they are our family. We lost a member of that family today, and nothing can prepare a school for that kind of pain. We will grieve together and heal together.”
Grief counselors and crisis response teams will be on campus Friday and throughout next week to assist students, teachers, and families. The school has also set up a hotline for parents seeking updates or support.
Local leaders, including Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles and North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, have expressed condolences and offered state support in the aftermath of the tragedy.
Ongoing Investigation and Next Steps
The South Carolina Department of Transportation is also expected to review the road conditions and signage in the area of the crash. While the tire blowout appears to be the primary cause, officials are looking into whether any environmental or road maintenance factors contributed to the severity of the incident.
As the community begins to pick up the pieces, questions remain: Was the bus properly maintained? Could the blowout have been prevented? Were the safety restraints adequate?
These are the questions authorities will work to answer in the coming weeks. In the meantime, a family is mourning the loss of a child, and dozens of others are recovering from injuries — physical and emotional — that may last a lifetime.
