North Carolina Bus Crash: 4 Killed, Over 40 Injured When Bus Carrying Football Team Crashes

RICHMOND COUNTY, N.C. — Four people were killed and more than three dozen injured when a charter bus carrying a football team blew a tire, causing it to travel out of control and crash into a median, the North Carolina Highway Patrol said.

Authorities said they believe that around 2:30 p.m. Saturday the front left tire of the bus blew, causing it to go out of control and into the median, striking the median guardrail before sideswiping a concrete bridge column near the city of Hamlet. The bus then traveled a short distance further before coming to a final rest.

The driver of the bus, identified as Brian Andre Kirkpatrick, 43, of Chester, South Carolina, was among the four victims. Authorities identified the three other victims of the crash as Devonte Gibson, 21, of Rock Hill, South Carolina, Tito Hamilton, 19, of Pahokee, Florida. and Darice Hicks, 10, Rock Hill, South Carolina.

Those injured in the crash were taken to various local hospitals. The highway patrol said their injuries range from minor to critical in nature.

The majority of the occupants were from Clinton College, a private college in Rock Hill. The occupants were traveling to Fayetteville, North Carolina for a football game at the University of God’s Chosen, scheduled for later that evening.

WSOC reported the football team was from Ramah Juco Academy in Rock Hill, a program that helps athletes who didn't qualify to play sports after high school get accepted into a college program. Many of the players are students at the college.

Two of the victims killed in the crash were students at Clinton College, the school said. Classes at the college will be cancelled Monday and counseling will be available for students.

Below is the full statement from the school:

"The Clinton College family is mourning the passing of two of our students in a tragic bus accident near Rockingham, N.C. 9/17/16. During the brief time that we have had these young men, they have become entrenched parts of the Clinton College family.

We appreciate the outpouring of support from our local community as well as nationally. Our biggest priority is to offer support to our traumatized student body, faculty, and staff. We ask to do that in private.

The local Rock Hill Red Cross will be here to aid the college 9/18/16. Classes will be cancelled 9/19/16 for all students and counseling will be available at that time.

Please keep the families and friends of these two young people in your prayers and continue to pray for the college."

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