WASHINGTON -- Thirteen people were sent to the hospital on Wednesday after three buses in a tour caravan were involved in a crash on the Capital Beltway in Maryland.
More than 80 students and chaperones from a Pennsylvania middle school aboard the buses were evaluated on the scene, near the Inner Loop's interchange with the Baltimore-Washington Parkway.
All the injuries were not life threatening.
At some point before 10:00 am, Wednesday, a caravan of 3 tour buses traveling on the Inner Loop of the Capitol Beltway (Route 95/Route 495) in Greenbelt were involved in rear end collisions. A middle school out of Dallastown, PA was on the way for a day of sightseeing in Washington DC as traffic slowed on the Beltway just prior to the Baltimore-Washington Parkway, a box truck rear ended one of the buses. A separate crash involving 2 other buses occurred farther back in traffic near Kenilworth Avenue.
The initial rear end collision caused moderate damage to the rear end of the bus. The bus engine was damaged disabling the bus.
A total of 8 passengers/students complained of neck and back pain on the first bus and 5, 4 students and 1 adult, from the second bus complained of illness or injury. No injuries on bus #3.
The Fire/EMS Department deployed 3 engine companies, 1 heavy duty rescue squad, 4 BLS ambulances, 1 paramedic unit, 1 ambulance bus, 1 mass casualty support unit and numerous Incident Commanders and EMS officers.
Over 80 students and chaperons were evaluated by Firefighter/Medics on the scene with just 13 being transported to area hospitals. All injuries/illnesses are considered minor.
Two left lanes of the Beltways Inner Loop remained open during the medical evaluation and transport of the injured.
The Maryland State Police-College Park Barracks are investigating the crash.
For more photos from the Prince George's County Fire/EMS Department, click here.