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Bus Carrying Hancock County Students Crashes

Some Hancock County students headed to Georgia on a school trip woke up with a jolt Sunday morning when their bus crashed in North Carolina.

All 20 students were taken to the hospital to be checked out and the superintendent said no one was seriously injured.

"The chaperones were in front of the bus and they probably have taken the biggest jolt because they were in front of the bus," said Hancock County Superintendent Sue Smith.

This latest crash marks the fifth bus crash involving Ohio Valley students this year alone.

"There's kids on board so you got to be careful around that," said Weirton resident Rob Gentile.

Back in January, 18-year-old Ashley Kauff died when she crashed into a school bus in Woodsfield. Six students went to the hospital.

Two weeks later, another driver slammed into a school bus in Steubenville. No kids were hurt, but the car's driver was. Later police said she had drugs and alcohol in her system.

"I think it's tragic and I think people on the road need to pay attention. There's a reason school buses are big and yellow," said Gentile.

February 14 in Jefferson County, a truck driver slipped on ice and went crashing into an Edison Local bus. No one was hurt.

Just last week, a school bus crashed into a car in East Richland Township -- sending two people to the hospital, but the students were safe.

With all the crashes, some said they think the kids need to have seat belts on board.

"That would be a good idea to have safety belts. I'm all for safety. Especially for children," said Weirton native Robert Hvizdak.

Others said they think the spike in school bus crashes could just be a fluke.

"It's just something that happens. I don't think anybody has any control over it," said Weirton resident Molly Ringer.

The Hancock County students did end up making it to their destination -- an academic games competition in Georgia.

The superintendent said two chaperones did suffer some injuries -- one had sore ribs, the other is walking with crutches.

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