ENGLEWOOD — Three Huber Heights school buses were involved in a crash on an exit ramp along I-70 in Englewood Friday morning.
At approximately 7:35 a.m., district administrators were notified of a crash involving three Huber Heights City School buses on the exit ramp from I-70 to Hoke Road, according to a statement from Huber Heights City Schools.
>> PHOTOS: Huber Heights school buses crash on I-70 exit ramp
All three buses were transporting Wayne High School students to the Miami Valley Career Tech Center.
After an investigation by the Ohio State Highway Patrol, it was determined that while two of the buses were waiting to get off the exit ramp, a third bus failed to maintain assured clear distance and rear-ended the bus in front of it, according to the district. This caused a chain reaction crash, resulting in damage to all three buses.
Students were immediately evacuated and checked for injuries, the district said.
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Fifteen students suffered minor injuries on scene and were transported to area hospitals for treatment, according to the district.
All other students were picked up by Northmont City Schools buses and taken to MVCTC.
The driver of the school bus that caused the crash has been cited by OSP, according to the district.
Per district and state-mandated protocols, the driver will remain off duty while the district’s Transportation Department conducts a complete evaluation of the incident, the district said.
“We are thankful for the first responders who were on scene within minutes to support our students. We are also appreciative of the parents who waited patiently for additional information and to Northmont City Schools for helping us in a time of need. Our thoughts are with those students that were riding the buses involved in the incident this morning. We hope all make a quick recovery and we look forward to seeing them on Tuesday,” the district said.
INITIAL REPORT:
At least one school bus was involved in a crash on the I-70 westbound exit ramp to Hoke Road in Englewood Friday morning.
OSP dispatch confirmed the I-70 ramp to Hoke Road is closed due to the crash. The crash was reported around 7:40 a.m., according to initial emergency scanner traffic.
Dispatch says at least one school bus was involved, but Ohio Department of Transportation cameras showed multiple buses on the ramp.
Multiple minor injuries were reported, dispatch confirmed.
Drivers are urged to use an alternate route, according to ODOT.
News Center 7 is working to learn more and we will continue updating this story.