Cushing Public Schools Superintendent ‘Thankful’ Bus Wreck Involving 20 Students Wasn’t Worse

Cushing Public Schools superintendent Melissa Amon said she is relieved and thankful that a bus wreck late Thursday night carrying students returning from a high school football game didn’t take any lives.

Friday, October 1st 2021, 6:41 pm

By: Augusta McDonnell

CUSHING, Oklahoma -

The community of Cushing is breathing a sigh of relief after 20 students walked away from a bus wreck late Thursday night.

The rollover happened at about 11 p.m. as the bus headed home from a Thursday night football game against Classen SAS.

The bus was carrying football players, cheerleaders and coaches that had just played in Oklahoma City.

“It was just heart wrenching to get that phone call that we’d had an accident. In those minutes until I could get there, and be on the scene, and see what was happening and put my eyes on those kids to make sure everybody was OK, I mean I can only imagine what the parents were feeling,” said Superintendent of Cushing Public Schools Melissa Amon.

One student was life flighted to OU Health as a precaution but is expected to make a full recovery.

Amon said most of the students were back in class Friday, but several are getting checked out for minor injuries.

“We’re very thankful that everyone is going to be OK, and we’re being sure to have counselors available and have them reaching out to people who were directly impacted,” said Amon.

The wreck is still under investigation, but troopers said the driver overcorrected after going into the grass on the shoulder of Highway 18 near Chandler.

The road was closed for a several hours.

“Our investigation - it doesn’t look like anything was negligent,” said Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Foster.

The Oklahoma Highway Safety Office reports 114 school bus wrecks this year. One has resulted in serious injury.

This is the second school bus wreck with injuries this week in Oklahoma.

“Although there were two of those situations just recently, it is very rare in the state of Oklahoma for a school bus to be involved in a collision and when they are, to have any kind of injury,” Foster said.

Amon said the bus and the driver have the appropriate certifications.

She said the district passed their accreditation audit last week.