Tour bus carrying about 50 plunges down Alabama ravine

ROBERTSDALE, Ala. (WEAR) - A tour bus has plunged down a ravine off Interstate 10, east of Wilcox Road in the westbound lane.

Authorities said at least 43 people were accounted for when the the charter bus headed from Houston crashed before 6 a.m. Tuesday. KTRH radio in Houston, Texas confirms the bus is carrying students from Channelview High School.

Authorities told Channel 3 News they have shut down I-10 in both directions so helicopters can land to transport those injured.

Traffic is being diverted to exit 49. Alabama and Florida state troopers are diverting motorist off the interstate on to Highway 90.

First responders from Daphne to Pensacola are responding.

Channel 3 News witnesses say at least two patients being wheeled into Scared Heart Hospital in Pensacola. Baptist Hospital reports two patients will be transported there.

ECAT is reportedly sending a bus to the scene to assist with transports.

http://weartv.com/news/local/breaking-tour-bus-drives-into-ravine-52-on-board

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1 fatality.

Wow... sounds like the driver must have passed out. That would be terrifying.

PkrBum wrote:Wow... sounds like the driver must have passed out. That would be terrifying.

I'm betting on him falling asleep . . . . I won't beat a dead horse by telling the details but having worked most of my life at odd hours I can testify to the treacherous nature of lack of rest . . . . it can be deadly.

I'm not at all sure of the veracity of this, but at least one report this morning said the driver had swerved to avoid a deer on the roadway.

BTW the one fatality was the driver.