A 9-year-old boy was tragically killed yesterday, when the charter bus carrying his youth football team home to Memphis, Tennessee, crashed along Interstate 30 near Benton, Arkansas.
Over 40 people were injured in the accident, including dozens of other children who play for the Orange Mound Youth Association league.
Orange Mound Football Team’s Charter Bus Swerved, Flipped Up to 20 Times
The fatal crash occurred at roughly 2:40 a.m., as the team was returning home from an all-star game in Dallas, Texas.
“I heard her swerve,” team coach Damous Hailey said during a news conference yesterday afternoon at Saline Memorial Hospital in Benton.
“I was seated right behind her, and I knew immediately what was going on as we started just flipping about 15 or 20 times,” he continued. “It went down a hill, over a service road and down another hill.”
Memphis Charter School Mourns Boy Killed in Arkansas Bus Crash
Hailey was one of a half-dozen adults traveling with the Orange Mound ELITE Youth Football Team.
At least 40 children were on board, ranging in age from 7-12.
The horrific accident killed a 3rd grader from Aspire Public Schools, a charter school system in Memphis.
“Just full of life. Full of energy. Full of potential,” Aspire Superintendent Dr. Nickalous Manning told the Atlanta Constitution-Journal. “It’s hard to put into words what the future had for him. He’s definitely a young person who is near and dear to our hearts.”
Crash Victims Suffered Injuries Ranging from Lacerations to Significant Fractures
Emergency responders transferred 26 patients to Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
During a Monday afternoon media briefing, Trauma Medical Director Dr. Todd Maxson characterized the accident as a “mass casualty event.”
“I’m grateful for the opportunities we’ve had to drill on this,” he said.
According to Dr. Mason, injuries ranged from lacerations to “significant fractures,” including skull fractures.
4 Children, 2 Adults Remain Hospitalized
Arkansas Children’s had released 22 patients as of Monday night.
Fortunately, the remaining four children are in stable condition and are expected to recover.
In addition to Coach Hailey, Saline Memorial treated 12 other patients. According to the hospital, doctors released all but one yesterday afternoon.
Three patients taken to CHI St. Vincent Infirmary were also discharged, as were three treated at Baptist Health Medical Center.
One adult, however, remains hospitalized at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
Orange Mound Community Reeling from Tragic Loss
Apparently, the children aboard the charter bus were members of at least 10 football squads in the Orange Mound Youth Association league.
The historic African-American community rallies around its youth football teams, making yesterday’s tragic loss all the more painful.
“Something like this, you don’t wanna see happen,” the uncle of one team member told KATV in Little Rock. “It affects the whole community — the whole state. Because there were so many teams mixed in to one, you know.”
Scott Shuttle Services Owned Charter Bus in Deadly I-30 Crash
Scott Shuttle Services of Somerville, Tennessee, owned the charter bus involved in yesterday’s deadly accident.
According to the Arkansas State Police, the company’s 65-year-old driver said she lost control of the vehicle, causing it to roll off the highway.
Additionally, police noted the weather was clear at the time and the road was dry.
The crash remains under investigation.
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