Man dies in fiery crash involving school bus

UPDATE 10/18/22 @ 7:20 p.m.

MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) - Mingo County Sheriff’s deputies said when a school bus on its way to drop off seven students collided with a work truck Tuesday morning, the truck caught fire and the bus overturned.

The accident happened around 7 a.m. along King Coal Highway near Mingo Central

Deputies said a man died in the fiery crash. Chief Deputy Allen Mounts said bystanders tried to help the man inside the truck when it caught on fire, but they were unable to get to him.

“It was too hot, and they could not get to him in time,” Mounts said. “It is just a terrible tragic accident. Anytime there is an accident, especially this magnitude, just to have a school bus hit that hard and then for the other to have that much damage.”

All seven students inside the bus were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, Mounts said.

The Mingo County Sheriff’s Office is working with West Virginia State Police to investigate the crash.

“We have the West Virginia State Police helping us. They are reconstructing,” Mounts said.

Counseling is available for students who were inside the bus when the crash happened.

Deputies said they are not yet able to release the name of the man who died.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest.

ORIGINAL STORY 10/18/22

One person has died Tuesday morning after an accident involving a school bus and a truck.

The driver of the truck passed away following the crash that happened around 7 a.m. along King Coal Highway near Mingo Central, according to the Mingo County Sheriff’s Department.

King Coal Highway has been shut down by emergency crews.

The sheriff’s office tells WSAZ.com crews expect the roadway to be blocked for some time.

According to the Mingo County Board of Education, seven students and the school bus driver were taken to the hospital to be evaluated for non-life-threatening injuries.

West Virginia State Police has been called in to reconstruct the accident.

Further information has not been released.

Keep checking the WSAZ app for the latest information.