UPDATE: Several seriously injured in Berkley bus crash, one charged with OUI
BERKLEY, Mass. (WLNE) – Several adults and children remain hospitalized with serious injuries after a school bus crashed off a state highway in Berkley Saturday night.
The school bus was traveling along Route 24 South around 9:45 p.m. when it lost control and went off the road and into the woods.
A Subaru sedan went off-road along with the bus. The driver, 27-year-old Christy Gilpatrick of Warren, was arrested for OUI alcohol second offense, negligent operation of a motor vehicle, and marked lanes violation.
State Police said 23 people were on board, all First Student Inc. employees and their families, returning to Tiverton after a company trip to La Salette Shrine in Attleboro.
Berkley Fire Chief Scott Fournier said the accident was the worst he’s seen in his 30-year career.
“Injuries were anything from broken arms, to head injuries, facial injuries. We immediately started triaging and closed the highway down so we could get in the mass of ambulances.”
He said when he arrived on the scene, he expected there to be fatalities.
“They’re lucky. As you know, buses don’t have seatbelts.”
He said first responders have prepared for a catastrophe like this. It took them only 30 minutes to get everyone off the bus and into ambulances.
“I’m thankful to have people like the other chiefs in the neighborhood. They came and made the whole operation run smooth.”
State Police said the cause of the crash is still under investigation and it remains unclear if Gilpatrick had a role in causing it.
Gilpatrick will be arraigned Monday in Taunton District Court.
©WLNE-TV / ABC6 2018
