MARS, Pa. — A school bus carrying children went over an embankment in Mars on Monday, injuring several children.
6:45 a.m. The stretch of Route 228 where a school bus with 40 students on board crashed off the road Monday has been under construction since March.
The bus hit a jersey barrier before it went off the road and over a hillside, landing on its side.
Six of the students on board were hurt.
Work on Route 228 is classified as a safety improvement project. It includes new turning lanes and bike lanes, as well as signal and drainage upgrades.
The work, which is being conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, is expected to be completed by May 2020.
Monday’s incident was the second time a school bus has gone off the road in the same are in recent months.
In July, a bus crashed, sending the driver to a hospital. No students were on board.
11 p.m. 40 children were on board from the middle school and high school when the bus hit a jersey barrier in a construction zone and went over a hillside.
An automated voicemail went out to all Mars parents letting them know about Bus #4.
"We also reached out to the children directly to the parents of children who went by ambulance so they would be notified. We didn't want them to be upset when they see the message that there was an accident and wonder where their child is when we got there," said Mars superintendent Dr. Wesley Shipley.
Some kids were taken to Passavant on a bus as a precaution.
7:43 p.m. Mars Area School District's school bus transportation will continue as usual on Tuesday, according to a school official.
A substitute school bus and driver will be provided for the students who ride the bus that went over the embankment today.
5:30 p.m. While total amount of students receiving medical care is not clear, the Mars superintendent said six kids were taken to the hospital immediately to be treated for minor bumps and bruises. Other students were taken to area hospitals as a precaution.
4:48 p.m. The Mars superintendent tells Channel 11 six kids were transported to a hospital with minor injuries, including bumps and bruises.
He said they want to make sure they don't have any head injuries.
Mars superintendent tells me 6 kids were transported to the hospital with minor injuries - including bumps and bruises. They want to make sure kids don’t have head injuries @WPXI pic.twitter.com/mbqGmp3ksy
— Gabriella DeLuca (@GabriellaDeLuca) September 24, 2018
4:23 p.m. Parents are being reunited with their children at the CVS on Route 228.
The children will be getting on a school bus there and will be going to UPMC Passavant to get checked out.
3:49 p.m. At least four patients are being treated. We have just confirmed that 40 students were on the bus at the time of the accident.
PHOTOS: Multiple injuries after school bus goes over embankment in Mars
At least four patients are being treated. It’s hard to see, but where I zoom in is the bus on its side down the hill @WPXI pic.twitter.com/VnYCzTItLa
— Gabriella DeLuca (@GabriellaDeLuca) September 24, 2018
3:47 p.m. Mars Area School District released the following statement:
Mars Area School District School Bus #4 was involved in a single vehicle accident on Route 228 at approximately 3 p.m. today (Monday, Sept. 24).
As per District procedure, 911 was immediately called and emergency responders were dispatched to the scene. All students are being examined by emergency medical personnel. Some minor injuries were reported.
The District is contacting the parents of all students who were on the bus at the time of the accident directly. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
3:42 p.m Channel 11 has confirmed the bus services Mars Area School District middle school and high school.
3:26 p.m.: Multiple injuries have been reported. Channel 11's Amy Marcinkiewicz and Gabriella DeLuca are on the scene working to find out what caused the accident and the extent of the injuries.
Channel 11 has confirmed this happened in a construction zone on Route 228 between the CVS and Springfield Grill. That area of the road is now closed.
#BREAKING: School bus with children on board goes over embankment in Mars https://t.co/w44FV6jyQN pic.twitter.com/wYKL65C7kA
— WPXI (@WPXI) September 24, 2018
The Cranberry Township Police Department just arrived on the scene.
At least four patients are being treated and six ambulances have been called to the scene.
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