UPDATE ON MAY 4: The scene has been cleared where the fatal crash involving a school bus and another vehicle happened on Thursday morning.
Bryant was behind the wheel of his own car when he said he saw the crash unfold.
"All of a sudden you see a car just zoom across like it was a high-speed chase, and that white car came down Carey and just blew through the sign," said Bryant. "The bus tried to swerve, but she hit the bus so hard, t-boned the bus, the bus swerved, went through the fence, then turned over."
He said he went over to try and help the driver of the white car, but she was pinned inside. Meanwhile, Faleata Luapne, who was working in the area, said he ran over to help the kids.
"Next thing I know I see a bunch of kids running out and I call my coworker, and I say, 'Hey, there's kids, there's kids,'" said Luapne. "When the kids came out they're just like ants, like spread all over the place. They're freaking out; they're crying. Some kids were holding their head; some kids are bleeding from the side of their eyes."
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Fear overcame students as their school bus lost control after colliding with a car.
"Suddenly the bus started flipping and everything was flying around, backpacks, dirt and kids," said Karla, a 13-year-old student on the bus.
Student Johnathan Blunt said he had to climb out a window to get out of the bus once it had flipped on its side.
"It was right in front of my window, so I just opened it and grabbed my friends," Blunt said.
Fatal detail is still investigating on who may be at fault for the crash, but today school police praised the bus driver.
"Bottom line is the bus driver - at this point - we're celebrating," said Captain Ken Young with CCSD Police.
Several students we spoke to also praised a 12-year-old classmate they say helped the bus driver control the bus.
"My friend grabbed the wheel to try and help her," Student Elijah said. "the bus would have flipped on it's top."
Police said they were able to get all students to safety in 45 minutes.
Parents were notified to meet them on the scene to reunite with their children. Many feared the worst.
"Everything is going through your mind and racing through your head, like is he okay?" said father Warren Taylor.
Police said 14 students on board the bus were taken to the hospital, but are expected to recover.
"I just thank god that he's alright he's good," Taylor said.
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As so many students leave the hospital tonight. The focus of this mass casualty event changing.Police trying to determine who was at fault: The school bus or the car. In trying to answer that question, 13 Action News tracked down the driver's family.
The driver killed was a 70-year-old grandmother. Her grandchild, 10-year-old Priscilla, just got out of surgery. Her family tells 13 Action News she is doing better than expected.
The family of the driver says she lived for her four children, her many grandkids, and one great-grandchild.
Her son tells 13 Action News she has gotten into fender bender's before, but nothing like this.
"I'm not going to see my mother again," he said. "I saw her yesterday last night, you know, you don't want it to end."
He wants answers about what happened. But at the same time, the family is so grateful the children on the bus were not injured more.
ORIGINAL STORY
One person has died and at least 14 students have been hospitalized after a crash involving a school bus Thursday morning.
The crash was reported around 8:30 a.m. near Carey Avenue and Nellis Boulevard. A total of 16 people were taken to the hospital, including the students.
The driver of the other vehicle has died while a child in that vehicle is in critical condition at University Medical Center.
#UPDATE: The person in critical condition was not on the school bus. pic.twitter.com/Hk2eaumeIJ
— Yasmeen Hassan (@YasmeenTV) May 4, 2017
At least 12 students on the bus who were hurt are being treated at University Medical Center with moderate injuries. The bus driver is also being treated at the hospital and is expected to be OK.
We are on air. Update: Kids will be okay. 14 patients in hospital. Critical patient is a minor from another vehicle. @KTNV #BusCrash
— Dayna Roselli (@DaynaRoselli) May 4, 2017
Clark County School District Police said the bus driver responded quickly getting the kids off the bus.
Briefing on CCSD school bus crash: "Bus driver responded quickly getting the kids off the bus." pic.twitter.com/vVD6Ktphgy
— KTNV Action News (@KTNV) May 4, 2017
UPDATE: 14 students transported with moderate injuries, 1 person still trapped in another vehicle, triage on scene for minor injuries
— Marissa Kynaston (@marissaktnv) May 4, 2017
The school bus was heading to Bailey Middle School. Parents of students have been alerted via Parentlink and texting. 36 students were on board the bus at the time of the crash.
Triage is on scene for minor injuries.
Parents of students on the bus were asked to go to Lowes on Nellis Boulevard. All students had been accounted for by 11:30 a.m.
UPDATE: all students have been accounted for
— Marissa Kynaston (@marissaktnv) May 4, 2017
UPDATE: still a handful of students who haven't been reunited with parents, less than 10, meet at @Lowes on Nellis.
— Marissa Kynaston (@marissaktnv) May 4, 2017
CCSD released a statement to parents on the crash, noting that members of the Crisis Response Team will be at Bailey Middle School Thursday to provide counseling services and support to students.
UPDATE regarding Bailey MS bus accident. pic.twitter.com/YzFpvV7zPZ
— CCSD (@ClarkCountySch) May 4, 2017
Nellis Boulevard is closed in the area of the crash.
UPDATE: Nellis and Carey intersection is closed to traffic pic.twitter.com/ft90Bmfjhd
— Marissa Kynaston (@marissaktnv) May 4, 2017
This is a developing story. Check back to 13 Action News for updates.
