DESOTO COUNTY, Miss. — A bus traveling from north Huntsville crashed in north Mississippi killing two people and injuring dozens more.
At this time, it is unclear how many people were on the bus at the time of the crash but authorities could confirm two people were killed and that 44 more were injured.
Mississippi Highway Patrol confirms that Cynthia Hardin, 72, of Huntsville and Betty Russell, 86, of Huntsville, were killed in the crash.
AL.com reports the bus crashed on Interstate 269 at Highway 78 in DeSoto County, said Joe Miller, a spokesman for the Mississippi Highway Patrol. The scene is just south of Collierville, Tennessee, which is a suburb of Memphis.
Roads were becoming icy earlier today in DeSoto County, where sleet and snow were falling, according to the sheriff`s office.
Miller said the bus left Huntsville today heading to Tunica.
“We have two confirmed fatalities,” Miller said. “The 44 injuries range from complaining of pain to cuts to more.”
Our sister station WREG spoke with a hospital spokesperson who confirmed the ages of the passengers were between 40 and 70 years old.
The name of the charter bus company is Teague VIP Express, located in Anniston, Alabama. WREG reports that federal records do not show any crashes for the company in the past two years and they have a Satisfactory safety rating.
But the company was cited in a 2017 review for 15 violations, including worn or missing steering systems, an axle problem and a cracked or broken wheel. The company’s three buses were taken out of service, records show.
Teague VIP Express posted a message to its social media account stating, “Our hearts and prayers go out to victims of this tragedy. Please keep everyone involved and families in your prayers.”
Hospital officials report that 19 patients were sent to one facility and 7 more patients were sent to a second hospital. So far the condition remains unknown for most of the patients with three listed in serious condition.
Two of the patients were transferred to a hospital in Memphis for trauma care.
We are working to gather more information on this developing story.
Update: Marshall Co, MS: One vehicle overturned. All lanes BLOCKED I-269 @ I-22. Please give emergency crews right of way! pic.twitter.com/y5B2TgKjM7
— Corie Ventura (@CVentura_WREG3) November 14, 2018