Over 20 school students suffer minor injuries after their school bus leaves the roadway and crashes into a tree in Jonesville, South Carolina

An accident involving a school bus in Union County sent more than 20 students to the hospital with minor injuries, according to troopers and emergency responders. The accident happened at 7:27 a.m. at Whitlock Lake Road and Morris Farm Road near Jonesville, troopers said. Troopers said the 1988 Freightliner school bus was traveling south on Whitlock Lake Road, when it ran off the right side of road and hit a tree. Union County Emergency Services director Ronnie Robertson confirmed six students were taken to Wallace Thompson Hospital in Union. "The rest of the students on the bus were out and walking around, so the decision was made to transport them all to the hospital," Robertson said. A second school bus, with a paramedic on board, transported 16 children to the hospital, Robertson said. He didn't know how many students were actually injured, but all of the injuries were very minor, Robertson said. Robertson characterized the accident as "fairly minor" overall, saying the school bus was the only vehicle involved. The driver, Ronald Holden, 61, of Union, was cited with driving too fast for conditions, troopers said. Union County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kristi Woodall said, "We appreciate the patience of the parents and family members as well as the response and compassion from the local hospital district, law enforcement, EMS, and first responders from other agencies."