CMS school bus in head-on crash with 2 other vehicles, injuring 17 in south Charlotte
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus headed to South Mecklenburg High on Wednesday morning was involved in a head-on crash with a dump truck and another car that left 17 people injured, officials said.
One person has life-threatening injuries and one has serious injuries after the wreck on Sharon Road West near Sharonbrook Drive in south Charlotte, Medic said.
Fifteen children on Bus 222 suffered non-life threatening injuries, and 14 were taken to a hospital, according to CMS. One student refused to be taken to a hospital, Medic said.
The bus driver, whose name has not been released, did not suffer life-threatening injuries, according to a school district spokeswoman.
The bus driver was pinned in the vehicle but was freed in about 30 minutes, Charlotte Fire battalion Chief Michael Gerin told reporters at the scene. Firefighters freed the dump truck driver in about an hour, Gerin said.
Both drivers were conscious and stable, he said.
“The problem we encountered was the high impact to both the CMS bus and the dump truck,” Gerin told reporters.
“Extensive problems were noted when we arrived ... We were able to access the kids very quickly, get them separated and start assessing their injuries,” Kenny Phillips, Medic operations supervisor, told reporters.
The students were taken to hospitals on Medic’s mass casualty bus, Phillips said.
Gerin said that “due to the high impact” of the collision, “we encountered some problems just in the shear nature of the force, and the amount of metal that was around the driver(s)...
“We encountered heavy challenges, but we’re extremely fortunate,” Gerin said. “Our heavy rescue, we had two ladder companies here both (with) the Jaws of Life. We used all of those tools and got both drivers out successfully.”
Nine students were taken to Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center and five to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center, Medic said later Wednesday morning on Twitter.
Two adults were taken to Atrium CMC, according to Medic.
At 9:45 a.m., traffic remained blocked on Sharon Road West. The dump truck and car were towed away, and efforts continued on moving the bus.
“Arrangements will be made for the transportation of students as well as staffing to make sure the route is covered,” CMS told The Charlotte Observer.
Dangerous road, neighbor says
James Daniels, who lives at a nearby apartment complex, said he was getting ready to head to the gym when he heard an explosion. He went outside and found a neighbor telling others to get fire extinguishers, Daniels said.
Daniels’ grandson, a South Meck student, was on another school bus that passed the bus that was hit, he said.
Many students live in the complex, and at least four school buses make stops there each day, Daniels said.
To leave the Aurea Station Apartment Homes, Daniels said he has to hit the gas to turn onto Sharon Road West. He described the road as dangerous, especially for left turns, because of speeding drivers.
“I’m surprised this hasn’t happened sooner,” he said.
Daniels suggested cameras or a crossing guard to deter speeders in the area.
“Think about the kids first when you come through here. The speed limit is 35, and especially during the morning, the kids are getting on the bus, just slow down. I mean if you want to get somewhere on time, leave early,” he said.
A Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police officer told reporters it was too early to determine if charges would be filed.
Staff writer Anna Maria Della Costa contributed to this story.
This story was originally published May 11, 2022 at 7:35 AM.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story gave an incorrect number of students aboard the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools bus. A CMS spokeswoman clarified there were 15 students in the bus.
