MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Va. – 11 P.M. UPDATE
Just before 11 a.m. on Wednesday, two childcare center vans carrying children from Pearisburg to Blacksburg on a field trip were involved in a wreck on the Route 460 bypass heading east near Prices Fork Road.
In total, 26 patients — most children ages 5 to 12 — were taken to area hospitals or treatment centers. The majority were taken to LewisGale Montgomery Hospital.
Two kids with more serious injuries were flown to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. A third child was taken to Carilion New River Valley Medical Center.
Tonight, Carilion says one is in good condition, the other two are in fair condition.
“It hits close to home. It’s pretty nerve-wracking,” said Savannah Smith, a mother who sends her two kids to the childcare center: Imagination Station.
Her children weren’t in the vans, but she said her husband heard about the crash and called her frantic.
“He was particularly concerned because he just didn’t know where the kids were at today,” said Smith. “I knew that they were here. But still, the anxiety, it hits you pretty hard.
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Imagination Station’s owner didn’t want to talk on camera, but spoke with 10 News over the phone. She said three vans were taking 39 kids to go bowling, when a driver crossed the median and hit the first van, causing the second to crash.
“As some of the police officers arrived, they started realizing how many potential patients we had,” said Blacksburg Volunteer Rescue Squad Chief David English.
He said the squad had to call in back up.
“It’s really just preparing for the worst and hoping for the best. And so we wanted to make sure that we had enough resources coming in case we needed it,” said English.
Blacksburg Police are still investigating the cause of the crash.
Smith said she trusts everyone at imagination station
“I think they’re handling it the best that they possibly can,” said Smith.
And she said she’s keeping the children and their families in mind.
“I can only hope the best for them,” said Smith. “I can only imagine what they’re going through right now.”
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UPDATE
Officials said that several kids were hurt after a pair of vans carrying children were involved in a crash on US-460 in Montgomery County on Wednesday afternoon.
Three vans carrying 39 kids from Imagination Station were going bowling when a driver crossed the median, hit the first van and caused the second van to crash, according to Sheila Morrison, the owner of the daycare.
Three children were transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital. Officials said one patient is in good condition with two in fair condition. Morrison would not share the age of the children involved, but Imagination Station serves kids age five through 12.
Morrison said the accident could have been much worse, but that the daycare is not going on any more field trips this summer.
Stick with 10 News as this breaking news story develops.
ORIGINAL STORY
Several people were hospitalized and two others with more serious injuries were flown to Roanoke following a crash on Route 460 in Montgomery County, according to the Blacksburg Police Department.
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Authorities say the crash happened on Wednesday at about 10:50 a.m. between Prices Fork Road and Southgate Drive and involved three vehicles.
Multiple people were transported to either Lewis Gale Montgomery Hospital or Carilion New River Valley Medical Center for treatment, officers report.
According to VDOT, all east lanes are closed at this time.
This is an ongoing investigation and anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact the Blacksburg Police Department at 540-443-1400.
We’re told traffic is being detoured onto Prices Fork Road.
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