Two children never made it home. A school bus full of STEM students, a TDOT dump truck, a Trailblazer, and a noon-hour highway turned into a scene first responders say they’ll never forget. Helicopters swarmed. Parents waited for calls that didn’t come fast enough. Officials begged for prayers as a community faced its wor…
They were supposed to spend the day chasing ideas, not fighting for their lives. A Kenwood Middle School field trip to a GreenpowerUSA event ended in twisted metal on Highway 70, with two students killed at the scene and others rushed by air and ambulance to hospitals across Tennessee. The bus driver clings to life in critical condition, while investigators piece together what happened in those final seconds before impact.
In Carroll and Montgomery counties, grief now sits at every kitchen table. Parents replay drop-off goodbyes. Teachers wonder how to face empty desks. First responders, haunted by what they saw, try to sleep. Local leaders offer statements and promises of resources, but the community’s real work begins quietly: checking on shaken children, holding devastated families close, and learning how to move forward without ever forgetting the ones who didn’t come home.
CEDAR GROVE, Tenn. (WSMV) – Update (5:04 p.m.): Baptist Memorial Hospital-Carroll County reports they have received and treated 19 patients from the bus crash.
“All have been evaluated and discharged,” the hospital confirmed to WSMV4.
Update (5 p.m.): The Tennessee Highway Patrol provides an update in the fatal crash:
- Crash involves school bus, TDOT dump truck and another vehicle
- Two students dead at the scene of the crash
- 25 students, five adults were present on the bus at the time of the crash
- Cause of the crash remains under investigation
“Tragically, two students on the bus were killed. Several others were injured, with multiple airlifted to trauma centers in Nashville and Memphis,” THP said.
Update (4:35 p.m.): At least 1 fatality, serious injuries reported after crash involving Montgomery County middle school bus on field trip
A spokesperson with Vanderbilt Health reports that four pediatric patients were flown to Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt on Friday afternoon.
EN ESPAÑOL | Lo último sobre accidente de autobús escolar en Tennessee
The spokesperson said the patents are all in “stable condition.”
Update (3:43 p.m.): A parent whose child was reportedly on the bus that was involved in a fatal crash in Carroll County on Friday has confirmed to WSMV4 details about the trip the students were on.
Suzy Butler, a parent of a Kenwood Middle School student, confirmed that the field trip bus was carrying STEM students from Montgomery County to Jackson for a GreenpowerUSA event.
Update (3:19 p.m.): The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System confirmed to WSMV4 that they do not outsource bus services and that it was a CMCSS bus and driver involved in the crash.
Update (3 p.m.): The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that troopers will be holding a briefing in Carroll County at 5 p.m. on the fatal crash.
Update (2:18 p.m.): Montgomery County Mayor Wes Golden has released a statement on the crash in Carroll County involving a Kenwood Middle School bus transporting students and adults.
“This is a bad day in Montgomery County. A Kenwood Middle School bus transporting students and adults in Carroll County was involved in a fatal crash. Parents have been contacted. There is still a lot of information coming in. Prayer is absolutely needed right now,” Golden said.
Update (2:08 p.m.): The Clarksville-Montgomery County School System reports that the school bus was transporting a group of Kenwood Middle School students and employees to Jackson for a field trip on Friday.
The bus was involved in a crash in Carroll County and families of all of the occupants on the bus have been contacted.
The Tennessee Highway Patrol is the lead agency in investigating this crash and CMCSS does not have any additional information at this time.
Read the school system’s entire statement below:
“A CMCSS bus transporting a group of students and employees from Kenwood Middle School to Jackson, TN, for a field trip was involved in an accident in Carroll County, TN. Families of all on the bus have been contacted. The Tennessee Highway Patrol is the incident command, and CMCSS does not have any additional confirmed information at this time regarding the accident. THP will provide further updates. THP Media Contacts: Lt. Bill Miller, Maj. Travis Plotzer, and Jason Pack.”
Update (2 p.m.): At least 1 fatality, serious injuries reported after crash involving Montgomery County middle school bus in Carroll County
Montgomery County Commissioner David W. Shelton reports that the bus involved in the fatal crash reported in Carroll County is from Kenwood Middle School.
The bus reportedly collided with a dump truck, Shelton said.
“There have been reports of serious injuries and at least one fatality. Crash and investigators are on the scene and the road is completely blocked,” the commissioner said.
“Please join me in prayer for the families and everyone impacted by this tragic event. At this time, we do not know exactly how it happened. I will post updates as I get them. May the Lord of all creation be with them, and may we all comfort those that need it.”
Update (1:20 p.m.): State troopers on scene of fatal Montgomery County middle school bus crash in Carroll County
The Tennessee Highway Patrol reports that troopers are on the scene of a fatal crash involving a school bus in Carroll County on Friday.
THP reports that the crash occurred at the intersection of Highway 70 and Cedar Grove involving, “an out of county school bus and another vehicle.”
The investigation into the crash is active and ongoing.
“Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes while emergency personnel remain on scene. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area and seek alternate routes while emergency personnel remain on scene. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available,” THP shared.
TDOT reports that a detour has been put in place:
Earlier: Montgomery County school bus involved in crash in Carroll County, sheriff’s office says
The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed to WSMV4 that it is aware of a crash involving a county school bus in Carroll County on Friday.
MCSO hasn’t shared any additional information at this time.
WSMV4 has reached out to the school system and other first responding agencies for more information on this crash.
