U.S. charter bus carrying 26 kids overturns near Baltimore, many injured

A charter bus carrying 26 school kids on a field trip from Pennsylvania school to Washington, D.C. overturned on road north of Baltimore on Monday, leaving at least 25 injured including two in critical condition, police said.

No fatalities had been reported so far, the Maryland State Police said.

One child and a female teacher, both in critical condition, were flown away from the scene by state police helicopter to a hospital, the police tweeted. Others were treated at the scene or rushed to nearby hospitals by ambulance.

The white bus rolled over on the driver's side with front-end damage, and appeared to leave damage to trees and an embankment beyond the right shoulder of the road. The guardrail along the right shoulder also was damaged, local media quoted witnesses said.

The Susquehanna Hose Company said the number of the injured reached at least 25, including the two in critical condition.

Steve Allers, a deputy chief with the company, was among the first fire and EMS responders at the scene.

"You just take it one (task) at a time," he said at a news conference Monday at the Havre de Grace Ambulance Corps headquarters about a mile from the scene. "You prioritize ... you do the most good that you can for the most amount of people in the least amount of time."

The injuries of those taken by ambulance to area hospitals included cuts, scrapes, bruises and possibly broken bones, said University of Maryland Medical System spokesman Michael Schwartzberg.

The crash, taking place around 9:30 a.m., involved 26 eighth grade children, two teachers, a parent chaperone and one driver, according to the police and Philadelphia School District superintendent Dr. William R. Hite.

State Police said the initial probe indicates that a passenger car attempted to pass the bus, lost control and came back across the lanes, clipping the front of the bus. However, the cause of the crash is still under investigation and no charges have been filed.

The incident has forced all lanes of I-95 in both directions shut down for about three hours.

(ASIA PACIFIC DAILY)