School Bus Slides Into Ditch, Flips On Side With 65 Students Aboard

CLEVELAND, TX -- Sixty-five 4th and 5th grade students were taken to Cleveland Emergency Hospital after the school bus they were riding on ran into a ditch, and rolled onto its right side.

The accident happened at about 4p.m. Wednesday on FM 1010 near County Road 325, according to Cleveland ISD police Chief Rex Evans.

Cleveland ISD officials said the students, who were from Eastside Intermediate School, were on their way home and travelling on FM 1010 when the bus driver swerved to avoid two other vehicles that had just been involved in a separate incident.

Because of recent rain in the area, the roads were wet and slick which probably contributed to the accident, officials said.

The bus ended up in a ditch and resting partially on its right side on FM 1010, officials said.

While most of the students on the bus were shaken up, 10 of the students were admitted to the hospital for observation.

"We're just very, very fortunate," said Evans. "This could've been much worse, and we're just grateful everyone is going home tonight."

The bus driver was taken to the hospital to be tested for any evidence of drugs or alcohol in his system.

The accident is under investigation.

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