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A bus transporting nearly two dozen Pennsylvania middle school students crashed on Saturday, Aug. 23, injuring 21 of them and their driver
The students were part of the Aliquippa Junior High School football team, per local reports, and officials said the vehicle "came to rest on its side"
"The cause of the accident is under investigation at this time," Economy Borough Chief of Police Michael O’Brien told PEOPLE in a statement
A bus carrying a middle school football team crashed, leaving 21 students and the driver injured.
On Saturday, Aug. 23, at around 9:55 a.m. local time, a bus transporting Aliquippa Junior High School students crashed on Shaffer Road in Economy Borough, Economy Borough Chief of Police Michael O’Brien confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE.
The bus "came to rest on its side, entangled with live utility wires, and was upended as students evacuate[d] the bus," O’Brien said. Of the 25 passengers on the bus, 21 students were transported to local hospitals.
"The cause of the accident is under investigation at this time," the police chief added.
The bus was carrying players from the school's football team, according to ABC affiliate WTAE, NBC affiliate WPXI and CBS affiliate KDKA. Shortly after 11 a.m., the football team confirmed on Facebook that the team had since "left the scene" of the crash.
"Each player is being evaluated," the team wrote in its initial statement. "Please take a moment to send a thought or prayer for each player or coach that was traveling this morning."
The severity of the students' injuries is not immediately clear. The Aliquippa School District did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for further information on Aug. 23.
WTAE reported, citing Beaver County EMS, that first responders were initially called to the 190 block of Shaffer Road after the bus crashed. Following the crash, WTAE documented the scene around the bus, stating that the vehicle sustained damage to its front, and that power lines and poles were down in the area.
Of those injured, one passenger was flown to Allegheny General Hospital, two were taken to UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, and some parents took their children to Heritage Valley Sewickley hospital, according to WPXI.
Two adults, who were traveling with the students on the bus, were "fine," the police chief said during a Aug. 23 news conference, shared by WTAE. The bus driver was injured, he confirmed.
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O’Brien reiterated that the bus fell "on its side" during the crash, which took place "on a bad bend" before the children were evacuated after the bus was "uprighted."
KDKA reported that the district's superintendent went to an area hospital to check on students.
Aliquippa Mayor Dwan Walker commended officials on their response while speaking with reporters on Aug. 23.
"Just pray for our babies," Walker said. "All we need to be concerned about right now is praying for the families. That's it. And then make sure they're okay, insulate them. Make sure they're okay and their moms and dads are okay."
"Something like this happens to our babies, everybody should respond — without question," Walker added. "I know the city of Aliquippa is grateful. I know the families are grateful. We are eternally grateful."
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