In all, 20 students were injured Friday when their school bus collided with an empty log truck in Winona.
Seven students were transported to UMC in Jackson, according to a news release from the hospital. The number includes the two in critical condition and three in stable condition. The two others have been released or discharged, according to the news release.
At a news conference Friday afternoon at UMC, Jennifer Stephen, clinical director of Children's Emergency Services, would not elaborate on the children's specific injuries because of privacy laws.
Other students were being treated at Tyler Holmes Memorial Hospital in Winona where "none of the injuries appeared life-threatening," Montgomery County schools Superintendent Sammie McCaskill said.
He said neither the bus driver nor the log truck driver was hurt.
Winona police said the accident occurred shortly after 7 a.m. at U.S. 82 and Lodi Road, at the Winona city limits.
McCaskill said the students on the bus ranged from elementary through high school and were being driven to school in Kilmichael. He said the bus had only picked up half its usual number of students.
"It appeared the bus was entering the highway and something happened," McCaskill said.
Police said the school bus was knocked on its side.
Shane Jones, 44, of Winona drove by the accident scene early Friday afternoon.
"Man, that truck must have been right on top of her when (the bus driver) pulled out," Jones said. "The skid marks couldn't have been more than 75 feet.
"Apparently the sun was in her eyes; that's all I can figure."
McCaskill said, "We are thankful that we avoided a real tragedy and that no one was killed."
There have been other serious accidents involving school buses in Mississippi this year that resulted in fatalities.
In April, a 10-year-old Shaw student was killed when a school bus packed with students and a tractor-trailer collided. Officials said a shroud of heavy fog contributed to that accident.
At least another eight Shaw students were injured.
The accident occurred at the intersection of U.S. Highway 82 and Lodi Road.
Jerdean Topps said she got a call early in the morning, telling her that her 13-year-old granddaughter's school bus lay wrecked on the side of the highway.
"I just broke down. I couldn't even make it to the accident. Next thing I knew, they had rushed (my) grandbaby to the hospital," Topps said. "What hurt me so bad (was) when I got here, they were airlifting one baby in a helicopter, and you could see it, that baby was really hurt. It tore me up."
Authorities said the glare from the morning sun might have played a role in the crash, but they are still investigating the cause. Meanwhile, parents wait for words of hope.
Steven Robinson said his son and daughter, who were sitting close to where the log truck made impact in the back of the bus, are fighting to survive.
"They are critical. It's critical," Robinson said. "We are going to keep our faith in God."
Robinson said his 17-year-old son can't move from the neck down, and doctors told him it's too soon to tell if the paralysis will be permanent. Meanwhile, Robinson said his 12-year-old daughter has a fractured skull and bleeding on the brain. The two are on breathing machines.
"Our main concern now is these kids' health and hope they come out of this like they went into it," Robinson said.
Winona Mayor Jerry Flower said community members are keeping the faith.
"We in Winona love our kids like everybody else do, and we are praying for the families and hoping that everything will work out," Flowers said.
"To other parents involved in this, please keep us in your prayers and we are going to keep you in ours," Robinson said.
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