The driver of a Ford Mustang that crashed into a busload of college students on Interstate 75 at East Ridge has been charged, according to East Ridge police.
At least 16 people were hurt in the collision between a USA Tours bus and a Ford Mustang near the northbound welcome center, authorities said.
The bus was carrying about 30 students from Lincoln University in Jefferson City, Mo., home from a trip to Atlanta.
Students on the bus described how the Mustang passed the bus, then swerved around and into the path of the larger vehicle.
East Ridge police spokesman Erik Hopkins said Esdras Lopez Chavez, 23, of Chattanooga, was entering the interstate from Ringgold Road and lost control. He said Chavez has been charged with driving without a license, not having insurance and failing to maintain lane, and other charges are pending.
The impact injured about half the passengers, but the students said they didn’t think the injuries were life-threatening. Six ambulances responded from Memorial EMS, Lifeguard EMS and Angel EMS and transported the patients to four area hospitals: Erlanger, Memorial, Parkridge and Parkridge East