30+passengers on school bus during rollover crash

FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, COLUMBIA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Emergency crews responded to a report of a school bus rollover Thursday afternoon in Franklin Township and a major road is closed, according to Columbia County Communications Center.

Officials say they responded to the scene of a school bus rollover with entrapment just after 3:00 p.m. at the intersection of Southern Drive and Ashton Hollow Road.

Columbia County Communications Center confirmed that there were thirty-one passengers aboard the school bus at the time of the crash.

There were a number of people with minor injuries, according to authorities.

It’s every parent’s worst nightmare, getting a call that your child was in an accident on their way home from school.

That’s exactly what happened earlier Thursday afternoon in Columbia County, when a school bus rolled over during its afternoon route.

28/22 News Reporter Avery Nape has been on that story all day.

It’s a horrific sight, emergency crews surrounding the site of a school bus rolled over on its side with students on board.

It happened along PA-487 in Franklin Township near Catawissa just after 3:00 p.m. Thursday afternoon.

The bus was carrying 32 elementary school students and the bus driver when it overturned.

Columbia County 911 center says most received minor injuries.

While it’s not clear how many people on the bus were injured, Geisinger Medical issued this statement saying:

Geisinger Medical Center, Geisinger Bloomsburg Hospital and Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital have received patients from an incident in the Catawissa area. Staff is assessing and triaging patients for appropriate care. A family reunification process is in place
Geisinger Medical

The bus covered both lanes of the road, and parts of PA-487 were closed for much of the afternoon as crews worked to clear the wreckage.

Southern Columbia Area School District also issued a statement on the crash, saying in part:

We understand that news like this is unsettling, and we are committed to keeping our families informed. Counselors and mental health staff will be available at school tomorrow, and in the coming days, for all students and staff who may need additional support.
Southern Columbia Area School District

Now it is still unclear what exactly caused the crash, however, no other vehicles were involved.