Dozens Taken to Hospital After School Bus Crashes

LAMPASAS, Texas — Dozens of students were taken to the hospital after their school bus hydroplaned and rolled over, crashing into a fence on Saturday.

Police said the school bus, traveling from Cleveland Elementary School in Norman, Oklahoma, crashed near Lampasas Airport just after 3:15 p.m. Texas Department of Safety officials told KCENTV that the school's principal was driving the bus when the back end hydroplaned into northbound traffic, and the driver corrected, which caused the bus to roll over.

Michael Tatum, a spokesperson from the Department of Public Safety, said the school bus was on the way to SeaWorld in San Antonio when the driver lost control of the bus, KWTX reports.

A total of 27 passengers, except the driver, were transported to various medical centers, according to KCENTV. One of the students and two of the adults onboard were still hospitalized as of Monday, another story from KWTX reports.

The students on board ranged from 10 to 11 years old, KWTX reports. A second school bus, carrying 24 male students, was not involved in the crash and was taken to Lampasas Middle School, according to the news source.

Alesha M. Leemaster, a spokeswoman for Norman Public Schools, told KWTX that the buses the students were transported in were equipped with seat belts, even though state law does not require them.

Norman Public Schools released a statement on Monday, according to KFOR, thanking the first responders and medical personnel who helped its students and teachers, as well as the Lampasas Independent School District, superintendent, and community, which provided care for the students and teachers, including food, pillows, blankets, and stuffed animals.

The district added in the statement that it will "continue to closely monitor those members of our school family who remain in the care of medical professionals."