Iowa State Marching Band members on their bus after a minor crash incident while returning home.
The Iowa State University Cyclone Marching Band faced a bus crash while returning from the Pop-Tarts Bowl game in Florida. Thankfully, all injuries reported were minor, with 12 students treated for bumps and bruises. A private school bus’s abrupt maneuver caused the incident, leaving the band members to manage the aftermath. Although the Windstar Lines motorcoach driver won’t face charges, the other bus driver was charged with failure to yield. The band returned safely to Ames, ready to share their adventure without the accident.
In a surprising turn of events, the Iowa State University Cyclone Marching Band found themselves in a bit of a pickle on Monday evening. Around 7 p.m., while returning from a thrilling display at the Pop-Tarts Bowl game in Florida, a bus carrying these talented musicians was involved in a crash near Chattanooga, Tennessee. Thankfully, though it caused a scare, all injuries reported were minor.
The bus that met with misfortune was a Windstar Lines motorcoach, transporting around 44 band members. As the band was making their way back home to Ames, a privately owned school bus made a hasty decision and pulled out right in front of the motorcoach. The dramatic scene unfolded with the Windstar motorcoach remaining upright despite the chaos. However, it was left disabled due to the damage it sustained from the collision.
In a rather concerning twist, the privately owned school bus didn’t stick around after the incident. As a result, the band members were left to navigate the aftermath on their own. But the situation was swiftly dealt with as first responders arrived on the scene to evaluate the injured band members.
A total of 12 students required some form of treatment for their bumps, bruises, and cuts. Thankfully, none of them faced any severe injuries that necessitated hospitalization, which is certainly a relief for the worried families back in Ames. An Iowa State University spokesperson reassured everyone that safety was the top priority during this unexpected mishap.
In a show of solidarity and efficiency, the remaining members of the band were quickly accommodated by the other buses in the eight-bus convoy. This way, they were able to ensure that the injured students received the necessary care and support while still making their journey back home.
The driver of the Windstar Lines motorcoach will not face any charges in connection with this incident, which might offer some peace of mind to those involved. However, it’s not over just yet; an internal investigation is currently underway by Windstar Lines as they cooperate with local authorities to figure out exactly what happened. As for the driver of the privately owned school bus, identified as Cleveland Branum, he was charged with Failure to Yield/ Financial Responsibility for his role in the crash.
Despite the turbulent night, the Iowa State Marching Band made it back safely to Ames by Tuesday afternoon. The resilience of these young musicians shines through even in the face of adversity. They have experienced what can only be described as a wild ride home from a fun-filled bowl game, but thankfully, they managed to avoid more serious injuries.
As the dust settles on this night of unexpected drama, the Cyclone Marching Band can look forward to sharing their experiences and stories from the Pop-Tarts Bowl, minus the bus crash of course. It’s a reminder that the journey, sometimes rough, is still part of the adventure, and they are ready to hit the ground running for their next performance!
Chattanooga Bus Crash Involves School Band on Return Trip
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