Authorities have identified the 13-year-old student who died after a school bus carrying dozens of students overturned on a South Carolina highway. Jose Marie Gonzales Linares, a student at Pine Ridge Middle School, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker.
Tinker confirmed Linares died from blunt force trauma and was found in the rear of the bus by first responders, according to reports from The State, CBS affiliate WLTX, and WBTV.
The fatal crash occurred on Thursday, April 17, as the school bus was returning from a field trip outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. The vehicle was one of three buses traveling back to Lexington County when a tire reportedly blew out on Interstate 77 in Chester County. The bus veered off the road, struck a guardrail, and overturned.
According to South Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt. Tyler Tidwell, the crash was reported around 1:47 p.m. and involved 35 students and two adults. While the other two buses completed their routes safely, this one resulted in a devastating tragedy.
The number of injured has varied across reports, with officials stating that at least 11 to over 30 people were transported to hospitals. Five individuals were reportedly in critical condition as of Friday.
In a message to families, Lexington County School District 2 announced that Pine Ridge Middle School would remain open on Friday to offer counseling and emotional support. Additional resources will also be available when students return from spring break on April 28.
“Even at this most painful time, it is a source of comfort to know that we live in a community and state where people look out for each other,” said Superintendent Brenda Hafner, expressing gratitude for the outpouring of support.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called the crash “a tragedy no family should ever have to endure,” while community members gathered Thursday night for a vigil at the school.
“We’re all in pain,” said Debbie McDonald, a former teacher, during the vigil. “From the first person that saw the accident to the last person that had to clean up the scraps on the highway. Everybody is hurting with this.”
The incident is currently under investigation by the South Carolina Highway Patrol.
Discover more from Baller Alert
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
