US News
Student bus plunges off highway overpass: six killed (Roundup)
Mar 2, 2007, 17:31 GMT
Washington - At least six people were killed Friday when a bus carrying student athletes plunged 8 metres off a highway overpass in Atlanta, Georgia.
The bus driver, his wife and four students died as a number of people were trapped under the bus, which fell on its side blocking all five lanes for a number of hours.
The bus was carrying 35 baseball players and coaches from Bluffton University in Ohio, travelling overnight to Florida for their first games of the season in Florida.
Many were taken to a nearby hospital - nine students were seriously injured and 20 were lightly hurt, a police spokesman told broadcaster CNN. Three students were in critical condition, requiring brain surgery among other injuries, health authorities said.
AJ Ramthun, an 18-year-old who plays second base for the team, said that he and most players had been sleeping when the bus plunged off the overpass at about 5:30 am (1030 GMT).
'I just wish there was something I could do for the families who lost their loved ones,' a tearful Ramthun told reporters outside Grady Hospital. 'I'm one of the lucky ones ... I'm gonn'a heal.'
Ramthun from Springfield, Ohio, broke his collar bone and received stitches next to both eyes and one ear. Ramthun said his older brother, Mike, had been trapped under the bus and sustained serious hip damage.
'He might not recover from that,' Ramthun said. 'I don't know how to come up to some of these players and say I'm sorry when I'm standing.'
The bus driver reportedly accidently took an exit ramp onto an elevated highway, and apparently didn't realise he had to turn left or right at the intersection. The bus carried on straight, unable to stop, and broke through the bridge barrier, according to witnesses.
'It's clear that this is a profound and tragic day in the life of Bluffton University,' James Harder, president of Bluffton University, said at a press conference. 'We will hang together and support eachother and try to work through this difficult situation.'
© 2007 dpa - Deutsche Presse-AgenturCOMMENT
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Older Talkback
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I`m from Ohio 25 minutes away from bluffton. I havent heard to much about everything but god bless these peoples familys
This is soo tragic. Life is precious, and work on relationship with God.
I am from Atlanta and I personally knew one of the kids that was in the bus, he is in the hospital now, but is doing fine. Very tragic......
May God be with the family and every one that was on the bus.. I will keep everyone in my prayers...
I live in Atlanta and am very familiar with the area where the accident occurred. This is by far one of the most tragic stories I have ever heard of in my life. May everyone that is somehow touched by this tragedy find the strength to heal and get through.
May God give you peace be at this time of mourning. It is sad to lose life in such a way, so our deepest regards go out to all you, the families and friends. From us here @ Auckland, New Zealand.
So sorry for this loss. We are keeping the team and all involved and families in our prayers. We hope the ones that are hurt will heal and the families of all will find comfort and peace.
In Jesus,
This kind of news always is so tragic, I hate hearing it. My first thought is always 'oh no'.
Cheese Owez Thats just horrible.
It's always sad when a seemingly responsible entity like a university sends its students off with amateur drivers. Some people seem to think a school bus is somehow immune from needing competent drivers.
Being a coach of young men or women is a hard enough job without being pressed into service as a driver. Obviously he wasn’t up to that job. The timing of the accident also suggests that he was probably fatigued.
cmsix
As a resident of one of the suburbs of Atlanta, my tears fell unchecked as I felt the full impact of this sad story. My heart goes out to the parents and families of the young lives lost, and to the family of the bus driver and his wife. Let's pray for all and for those who are still hospitalized.
For God Almighty are we, and to Him is our return.
May He by His infinite mercy give patience, perseverence and ability ot take such a loss.
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n/aMar 2nd, 2007 - 18:09:10
Thats awful that such a tragic thing happend. The best are always taken. My thoughts are with the families.
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