Four school buses carrying Clanton Elementary School students collided Wednesday morning on northbound Interstate 65 near mile marker 224 in Chilton County, shutting down the highway. A few students sustained scrapes and bruises, but no serious injuries were reported. The students were headed to a field trip at American Village in Montevallo when the crash happened.
Crash Reported Around 9:01 a.m.
The crash happened around 9:01 a.m. Wednesday on I-65 northbound near the 224 mile marker, according to al.com. A separate report from WBRC states that Chilton County 911 began receiving calls about the crash at approximately 8:52 a.m., describing multiple school buses involved on I-65 northbound near the same mile marker. Emergency crews converged quickly on the scene.
The Chilton County Sheriff's Office, Jemison Police Department, and Jemison Fire Department all responded, per the same WBRC report. Al.com described the wreck as a fender bender, and said a few students sustained minor scrapes and bruises but no serious injuries were reported. The station's report also noted that all lanes of the interstate were temporarily shut down before traffic was restored.
Students Moved to Other Buses, Highway Reopens
Following the crash, students were transferred to other buses and safely returned to their school, the same WBRC account states. A separate report from ABC 3340 said the district reported that all buses were headed back to Clanton Elementary by 10:02 a.m., and added that all students and staff were safe after the crash.
I-65 lanes were closed while crews worked to clear the highway. One northbound lane reopened around 10:21 a.m., and the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency said the roadway was fully clear at about 11:10 a.m., according to the WBRC report.
Sheriff's Office Shoots Down Death Rumors
As word of the crash spread, online rumors claimed someone had died. The Chilton County Sheriff's Office pushed back hard on that claim, telling WBRC that those reports are false and that at this time, no fatalities have been reported.
WBRC reported that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency was investigating what caused the crash, while Alabama's 42 reported that the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency started investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.
