In a heartbreaking tragedy that has left a South Carolina community reeling, a 13-year-old eighth-grade boy lost his life in a school bus crash on Interstate 77 in Chester County on Thursday, April 17, 2025. The young student, whose identity has not been publicly released out of respect for his family, was among approximately 35 students from Pine Ridge Middle School in West Columbia returning from a field trip to Charlotte when the accident occurred. The loss of this young life has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit Lexington County School District Two, prompting an outpouring of grief and support from local leaders, educators, and residents.
The incident unfolded just before 2 p.m. near mile marker 55 on the southbound lanes of I-77, about 40 miles south of Charlotte. According to the South Carolina Highway Patrol, the 2021 Blue Bird school bus, carrying three adults and roughly 35 students, suffered a tire blowout. The sudden failure caused the driver to lose control, sending the bus veering off the right side of the highway. It struck a guardrail and overturned, coming to rest partially atop the barrier. The scene, captured in harrowing footage, showed the bus on its side, with emergency responders working urgently to assist those trapped inside. No other vehicles were involved in the crash, which blocked traffic in both directions for hours, with southbound lanes remaining closed past 7:30 p.m. as crews investigated and cleared the wreckage.
Eighteen individuals sustained injuries, with 11 requiring hospitalization. Five of those injured were reported to be in critical condition, though it remains unclear how many were students versus adults. Emergency response was swift and extensive, with multiple agencies, including Chester County EMS, Richburg Fire-Rescue, and law enforcement, converging on the site. Five medical helicopters were deployed, airlifting the most severely injured to hospitals, including Atrium Health and Prisma Main. In total, 38 people—35 students and four adults, including a few from two accompanying buses that maneuvered to avoid the crash—were transported to five regional hospitals for evaluation. Students cleared by EMS were taken to a reunification site at Exit 48, behind a Shell gas station in Blackstock, where anxious parents waited to reunite with their children.
The two other buses traveling with the group were not directly involved but carried additional students and staff who witnessed the terrifying event. Lexington School District Two, which oversees Pine Ridge Middle School, confirmed the field trip was an eighth-grade outing, likely to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte, based on the school’s calendar. The district acted quickly to support families, opening the school on Friday, April 18, from 9 a.m. to noon, with counselors and social workers available to help students and staff process the trauma. Additional support was planned for when students return from spring break on April 28.
South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster addressed the tragedy, calling it “a tragedy no family should ever have to endure.” In a statement, he expressed heartbreak and called for prayers for the victim’s family, the injured, and the entire Lexington Two community. State Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver echoed his sentiments, noting that the state was “mourning alongside the Pine Ridge Middle School families, friends, classmates, and educators.” The city of Cayce, near West Columbia, also issued a statement urging the community to lift up those affected, while the Fairfield County Sheriff’s Office expressed solidarity, emphasizing the shared grief of the region’s close-knit communities.
The South Carolina Highway Patrol continues to investigate the crash, focusing on the tire blowout and the sequence of events that led to the bus overturning. Chester County Coroner Terry Tinker has not yet released the victim’s name, pending family notification, but confirmed the deceased was a 13-year-old male student. The Chester County Sheriff’s Office, led by Public Information Officer Londa Pringle, reported multiple injuries but withheld specifics, citing the ongoing investigation and the need to respect the families’ privacy.
As the community grapples with this devastating loss, Pine Ridge Middle School and the broader Lexington Two district face the challenge of healing. The school board has pledged to provide ongoing counseling, and local leaders have called for unity in supporting the affected families. For now, the focus remains on honoring the memory of the young student whose life was cut tragically short and ensuring that those injured receive the care they need. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of community in times of unimaginable sorrow.