17 students were sent to the hospital after a Lexington County school bus collided with a tanker truck.

The accident occurred May 25 a little before 4 p.m. on Pond Branch Road near AC Bouknight Road, south of Gilbert just off of Interstate 20. There were 43 students and one driver on board.

According to Libby Roof, chief communications officer for Lexington County School District 1, the students were from Gilbert High School and Gilbert Middle School. A press release shared that after district and school administrators responded to the site they went to Lexington Medical Center to check in on the students and driver, and all have since been released.

“Our hearts go out to the students and their families and everyone involved.” Superintendent Gerrita Postlewait is quoted. “We are truly grateful that those seen at the hospital have all been released. Today, school administrators and counselors continue to check on the students. Additional school counselors were on standby if needed.”

The release states that district officials are cooperating with S.C. Highway Patrol in the ongoing investigation of the incident. Lexington 1 human resources and transportation personnel are conducting their own investigation, following federal law and district procedures.

Security camera footage shared to Facebook by a shop at the intersection where the collision ocurred appears to show the school bus, which pulls up to a stop sign, subsquently pull out in front of the tanker, coming down Pond Branch Road which doesn't have a stop sign at that intersection.

In the Lexington 1 release, Postlewait expressed her appreciation and gratitude to Lexington Medical and the first responders who provided help and care to the students.

The driver of the bus was placed on administrative leave and will remain so pending the outcome of the investigations.

“The results of the investigations will be fully reviewed by district administrators and transportation officials,” Postlewait is quoted.

The release emphasizes that “district and school administrators will continue to provide support to the students on the bus and their families,” and “Lexington 1 remains committed to maintaining the highest safety standards for the transportation for our students.”

This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.