Fiery school bus crash leaves 1 dead, 7 students injured, West Virginia deputies say
A truck driver is dead and several students were injured in a fiery crash involving a Mingo County school bus, according to West Virginia officials.
The accident occurred at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 18, along King Coal Highway near Mingo Central High School in Delbarton, the Mingo County Sheriff’s Office said.
The bus was headed to drop off students when it crashed with the work truck, causing the truck to burst into flames, WSAZ reported. Deputies shared photos from the scene that showed the truck’s charred remains in the road and the school bus overturned on the shoulder.
Witnesses rushed to help the man trapped inside the truck, but they couldn’t reach him, according to the station.
“It was too hot ...” Chief Deputy Allen Mounts told WSAZ. “It is just a terrible, tragic accident. Anytime there is an accident, especially this magnitude, just to have a school bus hit that hard and then for the other to have that much damage.”
Authorities haven’t released the deceased driver’s name.
Mingo Central High School asked for prayers following the deadly crash. Seven students and the school bus driver were treated for minor injuries at a hospital, officials said.
“Parents of the students have been notified,” the school said in a statement. “First responders and school staff have been at the site of the accident. The Mingo County School District will assist the investigators.”
The students’ conditions weren’t known as of Wednesday, Oct. 19.
The sheriff’s office and West Virginia State Police are investigating the crash.
Delbarton is about 75 miles southwest of Charleston, near the Kentucky-West Virginia border.
This story was originally published October 19, 2022 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Fiery school bus crash leaves 1 dead, 7 students injured, West Virginia deputies say."