School bus overturns on freeway in St. Louis County

Associated Press WriterST. LOUIS (AP) -- More than two dozen children were injured Monday when a school bus overturned on Interstate 64 in St. Louis County. Two of the injuries were serious.

The accident happened about 8:30 a.m. on westbound I-64 near the intersection with Interstate 270, about 10 miles west of the St. Louis city limit. The bus was carrying city students to the Parkway School District's Shenandoah Valley Elementary School in Chesterfield as part of the region's voluntary desegregation program, Parkway spokeswoman Suzanne Miller said.

It wasn't clear how the accident happened or if other vehicles were involved. A Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman said the bus flipped over after the driver apparently tried to stop because of traffic in front of her.

Highway Patrol Cpl. Jeff Meyer told KSDK-TV that two of the injuries were serious.

"It was chaotic," Meyer said of the scene as officers arrived. "There were kids on the bus, kids off the bus.

"There were a lot of people who stopped on the highway to help out."

Eight students were treated at St. Luke's Hospital. Spokeswoman Laura Candido said she did not have specific details of the injuries except that none were life-threatening.

Eleven students were treated for mostly minor injuries at Missouri Baptist Medical Center. Spokesman Jeff Waldman said all were expected to be released Monday.

Ten to 12 students were being treated or were en route to St. John's Mercy Medical Center, spokeswoman Lynne Beck said. She had no details about their injuries.

Aerial television footage showed the bus on its side. Traffic was backed up for several miles as all westbound lanes were shut down, though traffic was passing along a shoulder.

Miller said the bus typically carries about 28 students, but district officials weren't sure how many were riding Monday.

Laidlaw Transit Inc. operates the bus. Spokesman Kevin August said he didn't yet have any details on the wreck.