School bus carrying Minco softball team overturns on Oklahoma highway; multiple players severely injured
Thirteen people were aboard the bus near Minco; local officials say several were ejected and six are in critical condition
A school bus carrying the Minco High School softball team rolled over Monday night on Highway 152 near Minco in Grady County, about 40 miles southwest of Oklahoma City, leaving multiple players and coaches severely injured, authorities said.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported 13 people were on the bus at the time of the crash. First responders at the scene said the vehicle rolled several times before coming to rest in a ditch, and that multiple people were ejected. Troopers said six people were in critical condition; others were injured. Local media reported the bus driver, who is also the team's coach, was among the injured.
Grady County Sheriff Gary Boggess said in a statement that the community is praying for the student-athletes and coaches. "God definitely had his hand of protection on each one of them. Please keep each student-athlete and coaches in your prayers," he said. Minco School District Superintendent Kevin Sims posted that the district would close school the following day and that updates would be provided "as we are permitted." Sims asked the public to keep players, coaches and their families in their prayers.
U.S. Senator James Lankford also posted on X expressing concern and urging support for the affected families. Local news outlet KOCO reported the coach-driver was injured in the crash. Photographs taken at the scene show a yellow school bus lying in a ditch with visible damage consistent with multiple rollovers.
Emergency crews responded to the rural Grady County scene Monday night and transported injured people to local hospitals. Authorities did not immediately release the names, ages or the number of students among those in critical condition. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol said it was investigating the circumstances that led to the overturn.
Minco is a small community in central Oklahoma, and the high school fields teams that travel by district buses to regional games. The school district said it would share further information about the condition of the students and coaches when it is available and permitted to do so. Local officials and community members asked for privacy for the families while emergency crews and medical personnel continued their work.