A tragic accident in South Carolina has left a community grieving after a school bus carrying middle school students flipped on Interstate 77, killing one student and injuring several others. The crash occurred Thursday afternoon, April 17, as students from Pine Ridge Middle School were returning home from a field trip outside Charlotte, North Carolina.

Authorities say the bus suffered a tire blowout, veered off the road, hit a guardrail, and overturned in Chester County. Approximately 35 students and two adults were on board at the time of the crash. The South Carolina Highway Patrol confirmed the bus was the only vehicle involved in the accident.

The Chester County Coroner’s Office identified the student who lost his life as 13-year-old Jose Maria Gonzales Linares, an eighth grader at Pine Ridge Middle School. His tragic death has shaken the Lexington Two school community and the broader South Carolina public.

South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster called the crash “a tragedy no family should ever have to endure,” and urged people across the state to lift up the victim’s loved ones in prayer. “Please join us in praying for the victim, their family, a speedy recovery for those injured, and the entire Lexington Two community. All of South Carolina is with you,” he said in a public statement.

Footage from the crash site showed the yellow school bus overturned on its side, resting partially on a guardrail. Emergency responders rushed to the scene, evaluating all passengers and transporting the injured to multiple hospitals. Eleven people were taken to the hospital, five of whom were in critical condition according to local reports.

Two other buses from the same field trip were traveling with the one that crashed. Those buses managed to avoid the accident and their occupants were also checked by emergency medical services as a precaution. In total, approximately 35 students and four adults were taken for further medical evaluation, according to Lexington School District Two.

The district issued a statement expressing deep gratitude for the swift response of first responders, EMS teams, and law enforcement officials. “They worked tirelessly today to assist our Lexington Two students, families and employees,” the statement read.

As the investigation continues, the South Carolina Highway Patrol is working to determine the exact cause of the crash. For now, the focus remains on supporting those impacted by this devastating event.

In moments like these, believers are reminded of the power of community and the peace that comes only from God. The Bible assures us in Psalm 34:18, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” May we continue to lift up the family of Jose Maria Gonzales Linares, the injured students, and the entire school community in our prayers, asking the Lord to bring healing, strength, and comfort during this painful time.