WMC-TV: News, Weather, Traffic, Radar, and Sports for Memphis, TN; WMCTV.com | Tree limb strikes school bus, injuring 10

Tree limb strikes school bus, injuring 10

By Lori Brown - bio | email | Twitter | Facebook

MEMPHIS, TN (WMC-TV) - Ten students from Wooddale and Kirby High Schools were injured Monday morning when a tree branch fell on the school bus they were riding in.

The accident happened late Monday morning near the intersection of McKenzie and Wooddale. Police said workers for a tree-trimming company were using rope to guide branches they were trimming when the bus hit the rope, causing a branch to fall.

"Just imagine a tree hitting glass and shattering it everywhere," said Carolyn Jackson, Director of Security for Memphis City Schools. "That's basically what happened."

According to a deputy fire chief at the scene, the bus driver apparently slammed on his brakes when the limb struck the bus.

Forty students were on the bus at the time, heading to a career and technology center. 

Six ambulances were sent to the scene, and a total of 10 students were taken to the hospital in non-critical condition.

Copyright 2009 WMC-TV. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.  The AP contributed to this story.