CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — 1. Five children were killed in the bus crash. The Chattanooga Times Free Press reports that the bus, which was carrying 37 students from Woodmore Elementary School, careened into a tree Monday afternoon. The interim superintendent for Hamilton County schools, Kirk Kelly, said in a Tuesday press conference that five students died. Three children were in the fourth grade, one was in first grade and one was in kindergarten.
Last patient just extricated from bus by #ChattFire here at school bus crash on Talley Rd. EMS is transporting. pic.twitter.com/0GhrSSy0Wc
— Chattanooga FireDept (@ChattFireDept) November 21, 2016
LIVE on #Periscope: Chief Fletcher updating media on Talley Rd bus crash https://t.co/LhBwtUQM5z
— Chattanooga Police (@ChattanoogaPD) November 22, 2016
2. Bus driver Johnthony Walker was arrested and charged. According to the Times Free Press, Walker, 24, faces five counts of vehicular homicide in addition to charges of reckless endangerment and reckless driving, police said late Monday.
Johnthony Walker, 24, charged w/ 5 counts vehicular homicide, reckless endangerment & reckless driving in Talley Rd school bus crash. pic.twitter.com/9ZTIpXUZNl
— Chattanooga Police (@ChattanoogaPD) November 22, 2016
3. Authorities said speed may have been a factor in the crash. "It is a complicated crime scene that covers a significant area," Chattanooga police Chief Fred Fletcher said. "I can't tell you if there were any issues (with road conditions). There were none that jumped out. Right now it appears that one contributing factor may be speed but that is part of an active, ongoing investigation."
The National Transportation Safety Board also will investigate the incident, according to The Associated Press.
NTSB launching Go Team to investigate school bus crash in Chattanooga, TN. Team to deploy a.m. of Tuesday, 22 Nov.
— NTSB_Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) November 22, 2016
4. Authorities aren't releasing the victims' names because they are minors. "Our hearts go out, as well as the hearts of all these people behind me, to the families, the neighborhood, the school, for all the people involved in this, we assure you we are doing everything we can," Fletcher said.
5. Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam and other officials are offering their condolences. "We're going to do everything we can to assist in any way," Haslam said, according to the Times Free Press. "It's a sad situation anytime there's a school bus with children involved, which there is in this case. We will do everything we can to assist in what I think is going to be a very sad situation."
Thoughts, prayers to victims of tragic school bus crash in Chattanooga & their families. A very sad situation. Will do all we can to assist.
— Gov. Bill Haslam (@BillHaslam) November 22, 2016
There are no words to comfort the broken heart of a mother or father. As I pray for families affected by tragedy, I ask you to do the same
— Andy Berke (@AndyBerke) November 22, 2016
Devastating news coming out of Chattanooga. Thoughts and prayers with students and families of Woodmore Elementary School.
— Butch Jones (@UTCoachJones) November 22, 2016
My heart goes out to the families of the children that were killed & injured in the school bus crash in Chattanooga this evening. TT
— Colonel THP (@THP_Colonel) November 21, 2016
Read more top trending stories on wsoctv.com:
- School bus driver charged, 5 students killed in Chattanooga crash
- Voluntary evacuations underway as new wildfire spreads in Blowing Rock
- 5 things to know about deadly school bus crash in Tennessee
- Cooper, Democrats pressuring Gov. McCrory to concede
- Cliff Barrows to be laid to rest Tuesday in Charlotte
Cox Media Group