Bus carrying junior high football team crashes near Pittsburgh; at least 21 students hospitalized

A number of members of a Pittsburgh-area junior highschool soccer crew had been injured when their bus was concerned in a crash Saturday morning. 

Dwan Walker, mayor of Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, confirmed to KDKA-TV that the Aliquippa Junior Excessive soccer crew was on its strategy to a sport towards a crew from Pine-Richland Excessive College when the crash occurred at about 11 a.m. native time on Shaffer Street in Economic system Borough in Beaver County, which is positioned throughout the Ohio River from Aliquippa.  

Economic system Borough Police Chief Michael O’Brien mentioned the bus was carrying 28 individuals, together with 25 youngsters, a bus driver and two adults. In response to O’Brien, at the least 21 youngsters and the motive force had been taken to space hospitals.

A spokesperson for UPMC Kids’s Hospital of Pittsburgh instructed KDKA-TV that it obtained 20 sufferers who had been concerned within the bus accident. It mentioned all of the little one sufferers it obtained have been discharged, besides one who required surgical procedure. 

A spokesperson for Allegheny Basic Hospital instructed KDKA-TV it obtained two sufferers from the crash. Their circumstances are unknown. 

The precise circumstances of the crash had been nonetheless unclear, and the trigger stays beneath investigation.  

A supply near the investigation instructed KDKA-TV that the crash occurred when the bus rounded a bend and veered off the highway, placing a hillside. The supply mentioned that induced the automobile to briefly tip earlier than touchdown upright. Within the course of, the bus struck a utility pole, flattening dwell wires, which some gamers needed to get round as they exited the bus.

Varied companies responded from each Beaver and Allegheny counties.

Aliquippa College District Superintendent Dr. Phillip Okay. Woods instructed KDKA-TV that he was going to the hospital to verify on the scholars.  

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro mentioned Saturday afternoon in a press release that he had spoken to Walker, whereas providing his administration’s full assist as authorities proceed to research the crash.

“Soccer brings the Aliquippa neighborhood collectively – and I do know those that ready to cheer on their crew at this time are already stepping in to care for his or her neighbors and verify in on the households affected,” Gov. Shapiro mentioned. “All the neighborhood is in our ideas at this time. Please be part of Lori and me in praying for the crew, their mother and father, their coaches, and everybody rallying behind them.”

A vigil is about to be held on the Plan 12 playground at 7 p.m. Saturday.

“When one thing like this occurs to our infants, everyone ought to reply with out query,” Walker mentioned in a information briefing. “I do know the town of Aliquippa is grateful. I do know the households are grateful. We’re eternally grateful.”