Marching band bus rolls in Washington

SEATTLE — University of Washington marching band members were on the mend Friday after one of six charter buses carrying members of the band and spirit squads rolled onto its side Thursday evening on an icy stretch of Interstate 90.

About 45 people were taken by ambulance to area hospitals to be treated for injuries that were not serious or life-threatening, State Trooper John Bryant said. Troopers, paramedics and deputies from the Grant County Sheriff’s Office responded.

The bus was en route to the Apple Cup in Pullman, Washington. The highly anticipated annual cross-state football game between the University of Washington and Washington State University was played Friday night.

University of Washington spokesman Victor Balta said the injuries included cuts, back pain and complaints of general pain, but were not considered critical.

“The university is doing everything it can to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff, and to get them safely back on their journey to Pullman,” Balta said in an email.

The crash was reported at 5:26 p.m. on eastbound I-90 about five kilometres west of George.

Bryant initially said there were three charter buses carrying band members, and up to 25 people were injured, but later amended that to six buses with at least 40 to 45 people sent to area hospitals. The bus that rolled was the third bus in the group, he said in a tweet.

George is roughly halfway between Seattle and Pullman.

Bryant said 56 people were on board the bus that rolled over. The remaining staff members and students boarded the other buses to George Elementary School, where they were assessed by medics.