A school bus carrying high-school-age students from a Burnsville parish overturned Saturday morning while traveling to a retreat.
There were 31 students and adult chaperones from Mary, Mother of the Church on the bus. According to the Minnesota State Patrol, two adults and four students were injured and transported by ambulance to St. Marys Hospital in Rochester for treatment, but no injuries were life-threatening.
“The Holy Spirit sent so many people to help us at the scene, including Leslie and Robert, who were experienced first responders who were driving right behind us,” Bonnie White, retreat supervisor from Mary, Mother of the Church, said in a statement. “They were able to help the injured until the emergency crew arrived. We are so thankful.”
Most of the injuries were cuts and bruises. The bus was traveling to a confirmation retreat in Eagle Bluff in Lanesboro when it went off the road and turned on its right side shortly before 10 a.m. Nov. 11. The accident occurred southeast of Rochester on Highway 52.
According to the State Patrol, icy road conditions were a factor in the driver losing control of the vehicle. The retreat will be rescheduled for a later date. The parish’s statement asked for prayers for the students and their chaperones.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story stated there were about 50 people on the bus, and that eight people were transported to a hospital, which is what was first reported by people on the scene. The story has been updated to include the numbers reported by the Minnesota State Patrol.
