WEST CHESTER, Ohio — Eight people were taken to the hospital after a crash involving three school buses transporting Colerain High School's football team to a game Friday evening.
West Chester officials said Ohio State Highway Patrol responded to I-75 north of Cincinnati Dayton Road at around 5:30 p.m. for a crash. Seven players and one coach were taken to the hospital after the crash, but everyone is believed to have minor injuries.
Colerain athletic director Matt Stoinoff said they were transported "as a precautionary measure."
OSHP said in a release the lead school bus stopped abruptly, leading to a crash with all three school buses and a Ford pick-up truck.
The remaining coaches and students were transferred to new buses and taken to Mason.
Some family members found out about the crash as they were driving to Mason to cheer on the team.
"When you hear that your kid was in an accident, you kind of get concerned," said James Robison, the dad of a Colerain wide receiver.
Robison and his wife heard about the crash directly from their son, who had his phone with him. They were immediately worried and nervous but said they knew exactly what was going on and that no one was seriously hurt.
For other family members who didn't find out about the accident from a player on the team, it took longer for them to find out that the crash wasn't serious.
"I was scared too because (it's) a bus. I know they don't have seatbelts or stuff like that," said Ashley Taylor, the aunt of another Colerain player.
Mason football players had a group-led prayer for the Colerain students impacted by the crash.
The game did still happen, with kickoff delayed an hour.
WCPO will update this story with more information when it is available.
