Six Bellbrook High School students were hospitalized Wednesday morning after the school bus they were riding in struck a light pole located in the Bellbrook High School bus parking lot, according to school and fire officials.
The six students, ranging in grades 9 through 12, were taken to area hospitals as a precaution, said Sugarcreek Schools Superintendent Dr. Keith St. Pierre.
Sugarcreek Township Assistant Fire Chief Nova Williams said the kids were taken to Greene Memorial Hospital, Southview Hospital, Kettering Memorial Hospital, and Miami Valley Hospital.
Williams added injuries to students were minor. St. Pierre thought some students had complained of neck aches.
"Certainly as a precaution, we're always going to take those kids (to the hospital)," said St. Pierre.
Township crews received the call of the accident at 7:37 a.m.
St. Pierre indicated that the school bus was lining up in the high school parking lot in an attempt to drop off the 16 students on board for the start of school. That's when it ran right into the light pole, said St. Pierre.
The driver and 10 other students on board were not hurt. St. Pierre said the parents of the accident victims were contacted. The remaining 10 students who were not hurt went on to school, said St. Pierre.
Williams said rescue crews from Bellbrook, Washington Township, Spring Valley, Beavercreek, and Xenia Fire Departments were called and assisted Sugarcreek Township at the scene and with transportation of the students.
St. Pierre praised Sugarcreek Township fire crews for their leadership and performance.
"They did a great job calling for assistance and a great job taking care of the kids," said St. Pierre.
There are eight light poles in that school bus parking lot, according to St. Pierre. Right now, the poles do have reflector paint on them, but St. Pierre felt that the paint was more helpful to cars navigating the parking lot. The plan is to put reflector tape around the poles in an effort to prevent future accidents.
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