A school bus carrying high school football players home from a game was struck head-on on a Tennessee highway Friday night, leaving the driver of the other vehicle dead and sending three student-athletes and the bus driver to the hospital.
The frightening crash happened around 9:35 p.m. on Oct. 2 along State Route 91 in Johnson County, Tennessee, as students and staff from Abingdon High School were traveling back to Virginia following a football game against Johnson County High School.
There were 28 people aboard the bus when it collided with a 2013 Subaru Impreza, according to authorities.
A preliminary Tennessee Highway Patrol investigation found that the Subaru was traveling south on Route 91 when it crossed the center line and struck the front of the school bus.
The force of the collision sent both vehicles off the roadway and into a ditch.
The Subaru’s driver, identified as 35-year-old Douglas McMillan, was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities said he was the only person inside the car.
Three Abingdon High School student-athletes and the school bus driver were taken to a hospital following the crash. Washington County Public Schools said their injuries were considered minor and that no students or staff suffered major injuries.
All of the students aboard the bus were evaluated after the wreck.
A second school bus was traveling with the group at the time but was not involved in the collision.
Washington County Public Schools initially alerted families following the crash and expressed relief that the injuries aboard the bus were not more severe.
“We are grateful there were no serious injuries and appreciate the first responders who assisted at the scene,” the district said.
The school system later issued a more extensive statement thanking Johnson County Public Schools, Tennessee Highway Patrol, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, emergency medical crews and others who rushed to help.
School officials said students and staff were surrounded by people who comforted them and helped make sure they eventually returned safely to their families.
The district also praised the response of its bus drivers, coaches, athletic trainers, counselors, administrators and parents following what officials described as an extraordinarily difficult situation.
“Our bus drivers responded extraordinarily well and protected our students above all else,” school officials said, adding that coaches helped manage the scene while students supported one another in the immediate aftermath.
Officials singled out the football team for its response, saying the players “rallied and took care of one another” following the crash.
A secondary accident also occurred in connection with the original wreck, according to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. Minor injuries were reported in that collision, and another patient received medical treatment. No additional deaths were reported.
Emergency crews temporarily closed the highway near the crash scene as authorities investigated and cleared the wreckage.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the fatal collision.
The preliminary report establishes that the Subaru crossed the center line before striking the bus, but authorities have not publicly announced why the vehicle crossed into the opposite lane. The investigation remains ongoing.
The school district acknowledged that the outcome could have been far worse given the number of students and staff aboard the bus.
“We understand that the tragedy could have been much worse,” officials said, while also extending their thoughts to everyone affected by the deadly crash.