A seven-year-old girl and her bus driver were killed in an accident Tuesday in Meigs County, in a crash with a utility truck that left one other student in critical condition, officials said.
There were 22 children on the bus when the crash happened on Highway 58 near the Bradley County line. Five were airlifted to a regional hospital, and two were taken by ambulance.
“It’s been a tough day today,” Meigs County Sheriff Jackie Melton said. “It’s been tough on law enforcement and tough on first responders. We need to keep the families of all involved our prayers.”
According to authorities, the Meigs County school bus was traveling south. An electric utility service vehicle was traveling north, veered off the road and then over-corrected by swerving into the bus’s lane. The service vehicle went into a side-skid into the front of the bus, officials said.
“My sincere condolences to this community and to the family of the school bus driver and the family of the 7-year-old who was killed tonight in this crash,” Tennessee Highway Patrol Lt. Bill Miller said.