The tire of the bus carrying 23 people from the First Baptist church in Shreveport blown and as a result of it the bus crashed. The accident occurred at about 10 a.m. this morning close to the state line that separates Mississippi and Alabama near Meridian, Mississippi. In his crash, one man is confirmed death and 22 passengers got injured.
The only victim pronounced dead at the hospital was a young 18-year-old male and his name was not released yet.

The church group was going to Macon, Georgia, to attend a camp to complete community service projects. The parents headed straight to Meridian on cars after they heard the news of the crash. A few parents were able to reach Meridian using church members’ private plane.

The victims were helped by a group of National Guard soldiers on the highway. Lauderdale County Coroner Clayton Cobbler III said,

“The National Guardsmen actually picked the bus up off the two people and got them out,”

The coroner said three victims were airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. One of them got head injuries and they were treated at three hospitals in Meridian. The passengers severe back, pelvic, chest injuries and scratches, said the Highway officials.

John Odom, the deacon board chairman said,

“The churches are mobilizing in the Meridian area. I even talked to the wrecker driver whose church was ready to do anything they needed to,”

Odom also said,

“There were some combat medics on board, who immediately began triage to the wounded,”

The bus was bought by the church recently.

First Baptist Church Shreveport

Members of Church