In Alabama, a distressing incident unfolded as a daycare van carrying elementary students veered off the road, resulting in the hospitalization of at least seven children and one adult.
The vehicle's trajectory led to a collision with a tree just outside Pinson, occurring around 7:30 a.m., as confirmed by Center Point Fire District Chief Brandon Dahlen in a statement on Monday, April 22. The van was en route to Kermit Johnson Elementary School when the accident occurred.
Alabama Daycare Van Incident
Dahlen recounted the arrival of first responders, who found the van severely damaged from its head-on collision with the tree. While the children's injuries were fortunately minor, Dahlen noted the driver's extraction from the vehicle was necessitated due to severe injuries.
The students, representing two Jefferson County elementary schools, were promptly transported to Children's of Alabama in Birmingham for medical attention, while the driver received treatment at the Trauma Center of the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Dahlen mentioned that the count of injured children could potentially reach eight, highlighting the uncertainty due to conflicting reports.
Post-incident, multiple agencies joined forces with the Center Point Fire Department, including the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, Palmerdale and Glennwood fire districts, and Regional Paramedic Ambulance Service (RPS). The Alabama Trauma Communication Center (ATCC) played a crucial role in coordinating patient care, as detailed by Dahlen.
Firefighters initially reported that six children were injured in the incident. However, officials from the Trauma Unit at Children's of Alabama later confirmed that the actual number of injured children was eight.
All eight children were transported to the Children's of Alabama, where they received medical attention for minor injuries, as confirmed by Center Point Fire officials. By 3:45 p.m., all the children had been discharged from the hospital.
The van involved in the accident belonged to Carson Village Daycare. Following the incident, a notification was sent out to the families of Kermit Johnson Elementary School on Monday morning.
Pinson Van Accident Confirms Multiple Children Injured
The van involved in the crash was operated by Carson Village Daycare and was designated for transporting children to Kermit Johnson Elementary School.
Jefferson County Schools verified that the students affected by the accident were from Kermit Johnson Elementary School (grades 3rd-5th) and Pinson Elementary School (grades K-2nd).
Following the incident, parents of children attending Jefferson County elementary schools received a notification. The automated message conveyed that a few children had sustained minor injuries but were expected to recover. It also informed recipients that the children had been taken to the hospital for assessment, soliciting community support through thoughts and prayers.
Additionally, parents received an email update regarding the accident, which included the following statement: "All the parents have been made aware of the situation, but I wanted to let our Johnson family know also. Please keep these students and their families in your thoughts and prayers."
The specific cause of the crash remains undisclosed. Chris Horn, Battalion Chief with Center Point Fire District, explained that the driver veered off the roadway to the right before colliding with a tree.
However, as of Monday afternoon, there have been no further updates regarding the condition of the children or the driver.
