School van flips injuring 6

From: Knoxville News Sentinel, TN - Nov 8, 2004

All occupants of vehicle had to be cut from wreckage

By News Sentinel staff
November 9, 2004

A van from the Tennessee School for the Deaf was involved in a single-vehicle accident Monday afternoon in South Knoxville, authorities said.

The accident occurred shortly after 5 p.m. when the 1998 GMC Safari van was driving south on Island Home Pike near the intersection of McClure Lane.

The van crossed a set of railroad tracks before it lost control, went into a ditch, flipped several times and struck a utility pole, according to the Knoxville Police Department.

All six occupants - two adults and four juveniles - had to be cut from the wreckage, said KPD spokesman Darrell DeBusk.

The extent of the injuries was not clear Monday evening. Police withheld the identities of the victims because of the extent of the injuries, DeBusk said.

Police are investigating the accident and trying to determine if all the occupants were using safety restraints.

"We are uncertain if one or any or all of them were wearing seat belts," DeBusk said. "We have a lot of questions."

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