Texas students injured in I-10 accident

MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WALA) - Two busloads of band students from Texas were headed to Disney World when their trip abruptly ended.

"The group was from Del Rio Texas. They were headed to Orlando," said Trooper Greg Eubanks.

Around 12:30, a tractor trailer east bound on I-10 overturned. The students were traveling not too far behind it.

The first bus collided with the truck.

State Police say the bus driver may not have seen the semi on its side and didn't have enough time to respond.

"It's a possibility. That's all part of the investigation, so its kind of undetermined as to how the crash occurred," said Eubanks.

Riding on the two charter buses were two band directors, five chaperones, and 98 students according to the San Felipe-Del Rio Consolidated School District superintendent, Kelt Cooper.

Cooper also said that this bus trip was not a school sponsored trip.

The students attended Del Rio High School. Parents, band students, sponsors raised money for the trip to Disney World.

Those who were not injured were taken to Ashbury Hotel on I-65. Drivers and school representatives at the hotel did not want to comment.

Meanwhile, traffic is back to normal. Although, for much of the morning, I-10 east bound was slow moving because crews had to remove debris.

"They were unloading the trailer by hand due to the nature of it rolling over and how it was positioned. So they have to unload the trailer by hand into another tractor," said Eubanks.

Monday night, troopers were trying to determine why the truck overturned in the first place.

It is still unclear whether the uninjured students will continue to Disney World or go back home.

State troopers said 22 people were hurt in all. At least one person is in serious condition.