Bus Crash In Loxley Leaves One Dead, Several Injured

LOXLEY, AL — One person has been killed and as many as 20 passengers were hurt in a charter bus crash on Interstate 10 in Baldwin County involving students from Channelview ISD in Houston. Reports sa the bus driver has died, and one student is in critical condition.

The charter bus which was traveling back to Houston with band students who had visited Disney World, ran off an I-10 bridge and plunged into a ravine early Tuesday morning. The accident happened at about 6 a.m. in the southern Alabama community of Loxley. The crash shut down I-10 in both directions.

Helicopters transported patients to several area hospitals, according to Baldwin County Sheriff Huey Hoss Mack. One patient remains critical, he said, and five are in serious condition. The rest of the injured, including a Baldwin County deputy hurt during the extrication process, suffered minor wounds, he said.

Channelview ISD released this statement:
"A charter bus transporting Channelview High School band students was involved in an accident on Interstate 10 in Alabama early this morning. At this time, details are limited. We are in contact with law enforcement in Alabama trying to obtain further information."

The cause of the crash is under investigation. First Class Tours charter company out of Houston says it pledges its assistance in cooperating with authorities.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.