10 injured when car hits bus

Ten people were sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries over the weekend when a passenger vehicle hit a small bus on Highway 15 just north of the Coliseum.

The authorities said the crash happened on Saturday, Dec. 7, at about 11:35 a.m. at Highway 15 and Road 561 or Pecan Avenue.

The incident involved a 2016 Chevrolet Cruz traveling north on Highway 15 and a 2000 Eldorado Aero Tech bus traveling southbound. The two vehicles collided when the Aero Tech attempted to turn onto Road 561 and crossed the northbound lane. 

The Aero Tech bus was a Miller Transportation vehicle taking about 20 people from Louisville to the MHSAA Class 4A state championship game in Hattiesburg, according to Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark. According to Clark, the vehicle received significant damage.

“The whole front quarter panel just disintegrated,” Clark said.

Deputy Trent Rickles was parked in his cruiser near the scene when the accident occurred. He said the car was probably going 60 miles an hour when it collided with the bus.

Mississippi Highway Patrol investigated the wreck.

The injured were transported to Neshoba General, according to MHP Sgt. Jameka Moore.

All four passengers in the Chevy Cruz were transported, and the other six were passengers in the Aero Tech. Rickles said those transported were between 30 and 60 years old.

Clark said the wreck blocked traffic for about an hour and 15 minutes.

Clark said no charges are expected concerning this incident at this time.