No serious injuries in bus accident

Berryville School District Superintendent Owen Powell said it’s “nothing short of a miracle,” that a school bus driver and 15 students who were involved in a rollover crash on Thursday, May 9, escaped without any serious injuries.

“We are just very blessed and very fortunate to come away with no serious injuries,” Powell said. “It’s just amazing.”

The Arkansas State Police are investigating the single-vehicle accident, which happened just before 4 p.m. on Highway 21 South at the intersection with County Road 705. The bus driver has not been cited for the accident, Powell said Monday.

“One of our buses was traveling south on Highway 21 and overturned close to County Road 705,” Powell said. “There were 15 students from grades kindergarten to 11th grade.”

According to a post on the district’s Facebook page, the bus driver and passengers were all evaluated at Mercy Hospital in Berryville “as a precaution,” and were released.

“The good Lord was watching over us,” Powell said. “We literally had no serious injuries at all. One student ended up getting a scratch, but no stitches or anything. I’m sure there were some bumps and bruises but no serious injuries.”

“Buses are actually very safe vehicles when they stay on their wheels, but when they overturn it’s a different story.”

Arkansas State Police, Berryville Fire and Rescue, Carroll County Sheriff’s Office and the Mennonite First Responders all assisted with the accident, Powell said.

“I want to give a shout out to all the first responders,” he said. “…There were a lot of people on the scene and everyone did a great job. I’m real impressed with how it was handled at the scene and everyone at the hospital was very professional.

“I was just very impressed with how everyone reacted to the situation.”