The incident occurred on Highway 138 in Georgia on Friday, Oct. 23

NEED TO KNOW

• Twenty-two students and three adults were hospitalized after a school bus crashed and overturned in Georgia on Friday, Oct. 23

• Salem High School’s football team was reportedly returning from an away game when the incident occurred
• State police told a local outlet that the driver lost control while making a right turn onto State Route 138

At least 25 people have been hospitalized following a school bus crash in Georgia.

At around 10:48 p.m. local time on Friday, Oct. 23, troopers responded to Conyers Police’s request to investigate a collision between a school bus and a passenger car, said the Georgia State Patrol (GSP) in a news release obtained by PEOPLE. A yellow 2025 Freightliner school bus struck a Black Kia Soul while exiting Interstate 20 eastbound, attempting to make a right turn onto State Route 138, per GSP.

“After impact, the Kia rotated counter-clockwise approximately 180 degrees and came to a final uncontrolled rest facing south in the right northbound lane,” said the GSP. “After impact with the Kia, the school bus continued off the roadway and onto the east shoulder of State Route 138. Once on the shoulder, the school bus began to overturn and rolled. The school bus nearly made 1 full rotation before coming to a final uncontrolled rest on the passenger’s side, facing south.”

The bus had been carrying Salem High School’s football team when it overturned, according to Atlanta News First. The team was returning from playing an away game against Greater Atlanta Christian School on Friday night, per the outlet.

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There were 27 total people aboard the bus, including 17 student-athletes, seven trainers, two coaches and the driver, Fox 5 reported.

“All students have been accounted for, but upon arriving on scene, some students had been taken for medical treatment by their parents, others were transported via ambulance and 1 student was flown via Life Flight,” said the GSP in its news release.

The GSP identified the school bus driver as 74-year-old Walter Hackett of Conyers, while the Black Kia Soul was driven by 35-year-old Calvin Harling of Covington. They were also both transported for treatment. 

“Thankfully, there were no casualties,” Rockdale County Public Schools district (RCPSD) Chief Community Relations Officer Cindy Ball, told Fox 5 in a statement.

“Our students and staff are receiving the care they need. School and district staff were at area hospitals to support them and their families and to check on everyone’s well-being,” she added. “We will continue to share information as it becomes available.”

All lanes were closed following the late-night crash on Highway 138, Fox 5, 11Alive and Atlanta News First reported, citing the Georgia Department of Transportation and school officials. 

Footage of the crash from Fox 5 and 11Alive show the bus on its side in a grassy area with several police cars and fire trucks nearby. The bus appeared to be situated near the edge of the highway a few feet away from an electric post.

An investigation has been launched to determine how the incident occurred.

“Our Troopers, officials from the school and officials from National EMS are all working together to compile a complete list of students, injuries and which hospital each student went to and how they were transported,” said GSP in its news release. “Our Specialized Collision Reconstruction Team (SCRT) requested to assist with the investigation and are currently investigating the events of the crash. Due to this crash involving a school bus, our Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division officers were also called to the scene to investigate. “

RCPSD did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

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