School bus crash injures dozens

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Three school buses carrying elementary and middle school pupils to a science museum Tuesday morning were involved in a chain-reaction crash, injuring dozens of students and adults, school and police officials said.
More than 40 people were taken to three hospitals, said state police Trooper Robin Mungo. There were no reports of serious injuries. Doctors and hospital officials reported mostly whiplash-type injuries and minor cuts or abrasions.
It was raining heavily when the chain-reaction crash occurred on Interstate 279, known locally as the Parkway West.
Allegheny General Hospital treated and released 16 victims, all children, who appeared to have only minor injuries, said hospital spokeswoman Heather Holtschlag.
Mercy Hospital treated and released 15 children and seven adults, none believed to be seriously injured, spokeswoman Linda Ross said.
St. Clair Hospital officials confirmed they treated five children and three adults and none were admitted, spokeswoman Kristen Colello said.
The injured pupils were in grades four to eight and attended the Midland Elementary Middle School about 25 miles northwest of Pittsburgh. They were headed to the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh when the crash happened shortly after 9 a.m.
There were four buses carrying about 150 students plus adults on the field trip, but only three buses were involved in the crash, school officials said.
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