Photo: Trooper John Bryant/Twitter
A bus carrying members of the University of Washington marching band flipped on the highway Thursday, leaving 46 occupants and the driver with minor injuries, according to state troopers.
The Husky Marching Band was traveling to Washington State University in Pullman in a group of six buses when one hit an icy patch on Interstate 90 and rolled onto its side,State Trooper John Bryanttells PEOPLE.
The driver lost control of the bus near the town of George at 5:26 p.m. local time on Thanksgiving night andstruck a ditchon the right shoulder, causing the bus to roll and land on its passenger side.
“The cause is still under investigation, but most of the facts are pointing to the road being pretty icy,” he says.
Bus carrying members of the University of Washington marching band.
None of the injuries werebelieved to be severe, the school said Thursday night.
“The injuries reported were cuts, complaints of general pain and back pain, but the injuries are not believed to be critical,” Victor Balta, a spokesperson for the University of Washington,said in a statement.
The marching bandwas heading to Washington State University for the annual Apple Cup football game between the two rival teams. The nearly five-hour drive spans almost the entire state, from Seattle to Pullman. In light of the accident, the remainingmembers of the marching banddecided not to play at the game.
“The Husky Marching Band is like a family, and we do everything together,” Brad McDavid, the director of athletic bands at University of Washington, said in a statement. “With that in mind, the band will not attend the 2018 Apple Cup game in respect and consideration of the recovery our students and staff need following our bus accident last night.”
Bryant says the state troopers helped the band find places to stay while they wait for everyone to get out of the hospital.
“We got them lodging wherever we could, and they were working on getting as many as possible up for the big game,” he says.
source: people.com
