21 kids hurt when rig hits mayor-driven school bus

A tractortrailer slammed into a school bus that had its lights flashing and stop signs extended, critically injuring three children and hurting the other 18 and both drivers, Louisiana State Police said Friday.

The bus driver - who also is a town mayor - and the trucker both had minor injuries, said Trooper Stephen Hammons. Most of the children, ranging in age from 5 to 17, had minor to moderate injuries, while two of those critically injured were ages 5 and 15, Hammons said.

The crash happened around 7:30 a.m. on a straight, clear stretch of U.S. 190 between Port Barre and Opelousas, about 50 miles west of Baton Rouge.

"The back bumper was pushed in almost all the way to the rear wheels of the bus," said Eric Thibodeaux, supervisor on site for Acadian Ambulance Service.

One seat had to be cut from the floor of the bus to free a trapped child, Hammons said.