A bus driver faces a reckless driving charge over a crash near Richmond which injured dozens of students, one seriously, as they were headed back to college after the Thanksgiving weekend. The students said it was a “miracle” they were not more seriously injured.
Thomas Chidester, 58, of Salem, Virginia, was driving the charter bus owned and operated by Abbott Trailways in Roanoke, according to State Police. He picked up the students near Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond to head back to University of Virginia, Radford University and Virginia Tech, WWBT reported.
About 15 minutes into the trip, he was headed south on the Powhite Parkway at 7.15 p.m. Sunday with the 50 passengers when he allegedly took the ramp to Chippenham Parkway south, lost control on the curve and overturned.
Thirty-four of the passengers and the driver were injured, with one passenger suffering serious injuries, state police said.
“When you have a bus with that many students, we’re very fortunate there weren't more seriously injured,” said Lt Jason Elmore from the Chesterfield Fire Department.
