School bus versus van crash with fire on County Route 75, Henderson — scene operations ongoing

A school bus and a van were involved in a crash Thursday afternoon on County Route 75 in the Henderson-Smithville area, with a vehicle fire, reported injuries and a road closure during the emergency response.

The crash happened at about 3 p.m. in Jefferson County, according to the available incident information. The radio traffic described a two-lane motor-vehicle crash involving a school bus and a van or other vehicle.

Firefighters were called to the scene after reports that the van was on fire. Later transmissions said the bus was on fire, and fire department units were actively fighting it. Because the reports differed on which vehicle burned, the exact sequence of the fire remains unclear.

Children were evacuated from the bus. A Jefferson County sheriff's transmission at about 3:20 p.m. said no one else was inside the bus. The number of children aboard was not given.

An injury was reported at about 3:08 p.m. Fire and emergency medical services requested additional ambulances at about 3:04 p.m., and an ambulance was ordered at about 3:12 p.m. for a 60-year-old male patient. The total number of people hurt and their conditions were not included in the available incident information.

Emergency response and road closure

Smithville Fire apparatus was on scene by about 3:02 p.m. Henderson Ambulance and Smithville Fire were among the agencies operating at the crash scene. Sheriff, fire and EMS units requested additional vehicles and kept County Route 75 closed to allow an ambulance to leave safely.

Radio traffic also included a check on helicopter availability for a possible medical transport. One transmission said no alternative helicopters were available because of weather, while another account said a helicopter had been called to the scene. The difference was not resolved in the available information.

County Route 75 runs through the Henderson area, and its closure affected drivers and residents using the road during the response. Henderson and Smithville are volunteer fire and ambulance service areas in Jefferson County.

At about 3:17 p.m., sheriff's dispatch notified the school and a replacement bus was dispatched. The school and district were not identified in the incident information.

What happens next

Investigators are expected to confirm the number of children and adults involved, the conditions of anyone hurt, the school district and bus operator, and whether the van or bus caught fire. Authorities also are expected to determine the cause of the crash and whether any charges will be filed.

Drivers should check for local emergency updates before using County Route 75 in the Henderson-Smithville area. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and local fire and ambulance agencies are expected to provide updates on the investigation and when the road reopens.