A tragic bus accident in Mississippi on Saturday morning resulted in the death of eight people, including a six-year-old boy, and left dozens more with serious injuries. The Mississippi Highway Patrol reported that a charter bus carrying 47 passengers overturned on Interstate 20, near Bovina, which is approximately 40 miles from Jackson.
Local first responders reported that a tire blowout around 12:30 a.m. may have caused the 2018 Volvo bus to veer off the road and roll onto its side. Several passengers were ejected from the bus during the crash, contributing to the high number of injuries and fatalities.
The identities of the eight deceased passengers have not been released, but it was confirmed that two of the victims were siblings, aged 6 and 16. The Vicksburg Fire Department responded to the scene of the crash, and 37 passengers were transported to area hospitals with serious injuries.
The destination of the charter bus remains unclear. No other vehicles were involved in the accident, which adds to the mystery surrounding the cause of the crash.
Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace spoke to the gravity of the situation, stating, “Anytime you have people injured or killed, it’s tragic. But when you have a situation like this, where you have multiple fatalities and multiple injuries, it makes it even worse.”
The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing, with authorities working to piece together the events leading up to the tragic accident. The community is mourning the loss of life and rallying to support the injured and their families.