WILMINGTON — An estimated dozen Wilmington Middle School students were transported to Clinton Memorial Hospital after a two-bus, rear-end accident Thursday morning. None of their injuries are believed to be major.
The collision between the two school buses occurred outside the Airborne Road entrance to the Laurel Oaks campus where the students were headed on a field trip. They were all eighth-graders.
Neck braces were placed on a number of students at the scene.
According to information at the scene, one bus was stopped on Airborne Road to turn left into the Laurel Oaks entrance, waiting on oncoming traffic, when the second bus rear-ended it.
Later, Wilmington City Schools (WCS) posted on its website and Facebook the following: “Thank you to our local EMTs, police officers, WCS staff, parents, and especially our 8th-grade students for their response and care after our bus accident this morning. Everyone stayed calm, helped each other, and allowed EMTs and officers to do their jobs.
“WCS administrators on site were tremendously impressed by the maturity shown by our 8th-graders and accompanying teachers in a difficult situation. We are thankful that there were no serious injuries,” stated the school district’s posted message.
Parents of those transported to CMH were contacted by phone.
Multiple life squad and law enforcement agencies from the local area responded to the scene.
Reach Gary Huffenberger at 937-556-5768.