In a tragic accident on a winding highway in Idaho, a school bus carrying 30 teenage campers and staff rolled over, leaving 11 people injured, as reported by the Idaho State Police. Among the injured, seven were in critical condition, while four sustained non-critical injuries. The accident occurred as the bus was transporting the campers back to Boise from the Treasure Valley YMCA’s camp at Horsethief Reservoir. Thankfully, there were no reports of fatalities as of 5:45 p.m., according to the Boise County Coroner’s office. Emergency medical agencies and law enforcement swiftly responded to the scene and transported all the teens to nearby hospitals for evaluation and treatment.
Efforts to Reunite Families and Investigate the Incident Underway
St. Luke’s Health System, operating in Boise and Meridian, took in multiple patients for medical care and is currently working on reuniting families. The Treasure Valley YMCA President and CEO, David Duro, expressed the difficulty of the afternoon but confirmed that all the campers, both from the crashed bus and the one following behind, have safely returned to the Boise area. The cause of the accident remains under investigation, and Duro stated that ensuring the safety of the children during their camp experience is of utmost importance. The camp, which offers various outdoor activities, caters to children between 2nd and 11th grades, and the YMCA frequently arranges bus transportation for the campers. As the community grapples with this unprecedented incident, families are awaiting further reports to understand the circumstances better and ensure safer journeys in the future.
Uncertainty Surrounding Upcoming Camp Session
With another camp session scheduled to begin on Sunday, YMCA officials are deliberating whether to proceed as planned. While families have the option to transport their children to the camp themselves, the YMCA usually contracts Caldwell Transportation to handle school bus transportation. The crash caused significant disruption, blocking both lanes of the heavily traveled Highway 55 for hours. As the investigation continues and more information surfaces, authorities, the YMCA, and parents hope to implement any necessary changes to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Highway 55, being one of the state’s primary north-south routes, sees a continuous flow of weekend travelers heading to popular destinations like McCall and campsites in the area.
Pic Courtesy: google/ images are subject to copyright
