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Students with special needs hurt after wreck sends Chesterfield school bus into ravine

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Posted at 4:29 PM, Apr 21, 2022
and last updated 2022-04-22 10:54:48-04

CHESTERFIED COUNTY, Va. – Five children and two adults were injured in a school bus crash that closed part of Hull Street Road near Pocoshock Boulevard in Chesterfield County Thursday afternoon.

First responders were called to a crash involving a school bus and a car at Hull and Pocoshock just before 3:50 p.m.

A photo submitted to WTVR CBS 6 by Christian Davies showed a school bus on its side in a ravine after it went over a guardrail.

According to Chesterfield Police, the driver of a Ford pickup was traveling west on Hull Street Road when the vehicle veered off the roadway, overcorrected and hit the school bus. The school bus then ran off the road, flipping onto its passenger side.

Five students with special needs were on board as well as two adults. All had had injuries that were not life-threatening, officials said.

“The good news is it appears everyone is going to be OK,” reporter Jon Burkett said.

Bus Crash

The driver of the pickup was not injured and remained at the scene, according to police.

Police identified the driver as 55-year-old Larry Talley Jr. of Chesterfield. He was charged with reckless driving and having an expired inspection. The investigation is ongoing.

VDOT officials warned drivers to "use alternate routes and expect delays."

Sources told Burkett that westbound Hull Street Road would likely be closed for three to four hours as crews work to remove the bus from the ravine.

Shawn Smith, the spokesman for Chesterfield County Schools, shared the following statement after the crash:

A Chesterfield school bus was involved in an accident late this afternoon. The school division has been and remains in direct contact with the families of students who were involved. We are sincerely appreciative of the work of Chesterfield County emergency personnel and everyone who assisted on the scene.

Police said their investigation into the wreck is ongoing.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to call the Chesterfield County Police Department at 804-748-1251 or Crime Solvers at 804-748-0660 or through the P3 app.