School bus driver dead after crash that sends 4 students to hospitals, NC district says
A school bus driver is dead and four students were transported to hospitals after a crash in Western North Carolina, officials said.
The bus was transporting four students on Nov. 2 when it “flipped over,” according to Henderson County Public Schools.
The district said the crash happened at about 6:50 a.m. along Green River Road in Zirconia, near the South Carolina border and the mountain town of Hendersonville. The area is roughly 35 miles south of Asheville.
The bus was for East Henderson High School and Flat Rock Middle School, and all students on board were taken to local hospitals for “observation and evaluation,” district officials said.
The driver, identified as 53-year-old Tina Gordon, reportedly died on the scene. She is described as a “beloved” worker who had ties to the school district for a decade.
“Our hearts are heavy as we mourn her loss,” the district said in a news release.
Now, officials are said to be investigating the crash. As of about 10 a.m., the cause of Gordon’s death wasn’t known, according to Henderson County Public Schools.
“Our district’s Crisis Response Teams are employed at the schools affected by this tragic accident, and will be available to support students and staff in our school communities,” officials said.
The regional office for N.C. State Highway Patrol, which is listed in a news release as one of the agencies at the scene of the wreck, hasn’t responded to McClatchy News’ calls requesting information.
This story was originally published November 2, 2021 at 10:19 AM with the headline "School bus driver dead after crash that sends 4 students to hospitals, NC district says."
