School bus driver, 7-year-old girl killed in Tennessee crash

DECATUR,
Tenn. (AP) — A school bus carrying children crashed Tuesday in
Tennessee, killing a 7-year-old girl and her bus driver and injuring
others, officials said.

The crash involved a utility service
vehicle and happened on state Highway 58 in Meigs County in eastern
Tennessee, said Lt. Bill Miller of the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

There
were 22 children on the bus when the crash happened. Five were
airlifted to a regional hospital, and two were taken by ambulance,
officials said.

The bus driver, a woman, had no opportunity to
stop, the THP said at a Tuesday evening news conference at Meigs South
Elementary School in Decatur, according to the Chattanooga Times Free Press.

One
student, a boy, was in critical condition and undergoing surgery as of
late Tuesday night. No names were released pending notification of
family.

“My sincere condolences to this community and to the
family of the school bus driver and the family of the 7-year-old who was
killed tonight in this crash,” Lt. Miller said.

Tennessee
Education Commissioner Penny Schwinn said in a statement that she and
the entire staff at the Tennessee Department of Education are “deeply
saddened” to hear about the crash.

The driver of the utility vehicle, from Service Electric, is being treated for minor injuries.

Authorities are investigating the crash. No charges have been filed in the crash.