Chattanooga is in mourning after a bus crash claimed the lives of five elementary school children. A dozen remain hospitalized; six in critical condition.
The accident happened on Talley Road, less than a mile from Woodmore Elementary, while children were traveling home. Thirty-seven children were on the bus at the time of the crash.
The driver, 24-year-old Johnthony Walker, is in custody and charged with vehicular homicide, reckless driving, and reckless endangerment. Speeding is being investigated as a factor in the crash but no official findings have been released yet.
Interim Hamilton County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kirk Kelly confirmed one kindergartner, one first-grader, and three fourth-graders have died.
"We are heartbroken for all our students and their families. Yesterday was the worst day that we have had for Woodmore and for Hamilton County schools-that I can recall in my life as an educator, and as a parent, and as a member of this community."
Classes resumed this morning at Woodmore Elementary and grief counselors were made available to students.
The driver worked for Durham School Services, a private company contracted to provide buses for the county. Dr. Kelly says Durham will work with officials investigating why the bus left the road and hit a tree.
The National Transportation Safety Board is in Chattanooga investigating.