At least one person has died after a charter bus carrying Texas high school band students from a Disney World trip plunged into an Alabama ravine early Tuesday.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Alabama state troopers have confirmed that the bus driver died in the crash.
The students are from Channelview (Texas) High School near Houston.
Between 12 and 20 people were injured; six of them are reported in serious condition. Numerous children were flown or taken by ambulance to 10 different hospitals.
Authorities were notified of the crash around 5:30 a.m. The bus fell into the ravine on Interstate 10 near the Alabama-Florida state line. Forty-five people were on the bus that was returning from Orlando.
The bus appeared to have left the roadway before crossing a bridge and fell at least 35 feet down into the ravine, says Assistant Deputy Chief Anthony Lowery of the Baldwin County, Ala., Sheriff’s Office.
Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola has received 19 patients from the wreck. Of those, four have serious injuries.
A Channelview district spokesman confirmed that the bus was carrying high school band students. The students were returning back to the Houston area from a high school band trip to Disney World, Bryan said. The school is closed this week for spring break.
Band members were on two buses, authorities say. The other bus is still en route to Channelview.
A Baldwin County commissioner who assisted at the accident scene says responders had to rappel down to the bus to rescue the bus riders.
Video from the Associated Press:
