Video: 12 Senior Citizens Hurt in Church Bus Wreck Near Morrilton
By: KARK 4 News
Updated: November 27, 2012
Update (12:40 p.m.):
Officials have updated the number of people injured in this bus wreck to 12. One of them is reported in critical condition. The conditions of the others were not yet known at last report.
Ten of the injured are being treated at St. Vincent Morrilton Hospital.
Officials on the scene tell KARK 4 News that the bus passengers are all women who are part of a group called the Golden Girls* who perform gospel music at nursing homes in the area on Tuesdays. Today, they were headed to Perryville.
The bus driver reported feeling sick to his stomach and wanted to pull over before the crash. When the bus went off the road it hit several fences and a ditch, but did not overturn as had first been reported.
The Conway County Sheriff's Office is investigating the accident.
Original story (11:00 a.m.)
Fourteen to 15 senior citizens are reported injured in a church bus wreck in Conway County.
It happened Tuesday morning along Highway 9 about two miles outside Morrilton.
Officials tell KARK 4 News that at least two of the injured were airlifted from the scene.
The driver reportedly told emergency officials at the scene that he remembered feeling sick to his stomach before the crash.
The bus traveled 500 feet off the road into a field before overturning, officials said.
The conditions of those injured are not yet known.
KARK 4 News has been told the bus belonged to Lonoke Missionary Baptist Church in Morrilton.
*From the Lonoke Missionary Baptist Church website, more information on the "Golden Girls":
This is a special group of ladies at Lonoke. Any lady over 65 years of age is in this group and they have a special bond and connection. They take trips, go out to eat and are generally there for each other on a regular basis. They also serve around the church. They lead out in visiting area Nursing Homes on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. This is a special group of ladies.
Officials have updated the number of people injured in this bus wreck to 12. One of them is reported in critical condition. The conditions of the others were not yet known at last report.
Ten of the injured are being treated at St. Vincent Morrilton Hospital.
Officials on the scene tell KARK 4 News that the bus passengers are all women who are part of a group called the Golden Girls* who perform gospel music at nursing homes in the area on Tuesdays. Today, they were headed to Perryville.
The bus driver reported feeling sick to his stomach and wanted to pull over before the crash. When the bus went off the road it hit several fences and a ditch, but did not overturn as had first been reported.
The Conway County Sheriff's Office is investigating the accident.
Original story (11:00 a.m.)
Fourteen to 15 senior citizens are reported injured in a church bus wreck in Conway County.
It happened Tuesday morning along Highway 9 about two miles outside Morrilton.
Officials tell KARK 4 News that at least two of the injured were airlifted from the scene.
The driver reportedly told emergency officials at the scene that he remembered feeling sick to his stomach before the crash.
The bus traveled 500 feet off the road into a field before overturning, officials said.
The conditions of those injured are not yet known.
KARK 4 News has been told the bus belonged to Lonoke Missionary Baptist Church in Morrilton.
*From the Lonoke Missionary Baptist Church website, more information on the "Golden Girls":
This is a special group of ladies at Lonoke. Any lady over 65 years of age is in this group and they have a special bond and connection. They take trips, go out to eat and are generally there for each other on a regular basis. They also serve around the church. They lead out in visiting area Nursing Homes on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month. This is a special group of ladies.
