MATEWAN, W.Va. — Seven students and a bus driver are being evaluated at the hospital after a school bus crash in Mingo County. The driver of the second vehicle was killed.
The bus, headed to Mingo Central High School, crashed into a service truck on U.S. Route 52, the King Coal Highway, just south of the school around 7 a.m. Tuesday. School officials indicate the injuries to the students were not life-threatening and the parents of the students have been notified. Five of the students were headed to Mingo Central. School officials say two more were headed to a different school.
Mingo County Schools spokesman Chris Williams said they kept parents up to date on what was happening.
“As soon as the accident did happen and we were made aware of the situation, all of the parents of the seven students that were on board, we notified them immediately,” Williams said. “After we got more information from first responders and police departments on scene we put something out on our social media channels as well to let everyone else in the community know.”
The Mingo County Sheriff’s Department confirmed the driver of the truck was killed in the head on collision. The name of the driver has not been released.
The accident is under investigation by the sheriff’s department and the state police.
First Lady Cathy Justice has decided to postpone a Friends with Paws therapy dog event set for Wednesday at Lenore K-8 because of the crash.
“The Governor and I send our deepest condolences to the family of the driver that was killed in this morning’s crash. We are also praying for the families of the students and bus driver involved, several of whom were transported to the hospital,” First Lady Justice said in a statement. “At this time we feel it is best to postpone our celebration for Kylo and hold it at a later date.”