Despite bus crash, Edgewood Cougars scratch out a win
Bus carrying Edgewood football players was involved in collision on its way to Oxford.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
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WAYNE TWP., Butler County — Edgewood High School scratched out a win against Talawanda even after the school bus carrying its varsity football team was involved in a crash while en route to its game in Oxford that sent four people to area hospitals.
The bus was traveling west on Ohio 73 when it was struck at 6:18 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, by an eastbound vehicle that went left of center, said Sgt. Randy Lambert of the Butler County Sheriff's Office.
The driver of the car, whose name was not immediately released, was a 30-year-old out-of-state driver who was injured and taken to the hospital, said Lambert, who added the driver was cited in the crash.
After the initial collision, the bus struck another vehicle before — without front wheels — it ground to a stop into a ditch in the 3900 block of Trenton Oxford Road.
None of the Edgewood football players or three coaches aboard the bus were injured in the crash that delayed the football game by 50 minutes, but two teenagers in the second vehicle struck were taken by ambulance to the hospital, according to witnesses. The bus driver also was taken to the hospital for treatment of injuries.
"It was the scariest experience I've ever had," said Edgewood Coach Steve Channell, who described hearing a loud crash and feeling the bus jolt and sway. The bus then nearly flipped before striking the second vehicle and heading into the ditch, said Channell, who credited the bus driver for maintaining control.
As police and fire officials investigated the crash, the athletes, wearing their uniforms, were checked.
Amanda Couch said she was seconds away from being involved in the collision as she traveled east toward Trenton. She saw a white car and bus collide nearly head on, and then saw the bus strike a black vehicle, which flipped and landed in the grass 30 feet from the roadway.




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Edgewood varsity football players wait to go to Oxford for a game against Talawanda High School after their bus was involved in a crash just after 6:15 p.m. Friday, Oct. 10, on Ohio 73 in between Trenton and Oxford.
Edgewood football Coach Steve Channell credits the bus driver with being able to control the bus, despite losing both front wheels, to keep it upright as it landed in a ditch. The players were uninjured, and went on to win the game.
A car driven by an out-of-state motorist drifted left of center, crashing into a bus carrying the Edgewood High School football team. The bus then struck another vehicle before landing in a ditch. Four people were transported to area hospitals, but no athletes were injured.