Red Cloud Community Begins to Heal in the Wake of Bus Accident

posted September 09, 2016 



On Friday, September 2, the Red Cloud community experienced a terrifying blow. After a long day of school, one of Red Cloud’s buses was struck head-on by a car traveling at high speed.

Students, teachers, and staff reeled as news of the crash spread across campus. But first responders at the scene worked quickly to ensure that the 16 students and bus driver involved received the urgent care they needed. Although some sustained injuries, the students and driver were all treated and released from the local hospital that evening. Now the Red Cloud community is coming together to heal from this trauma—and to give thanks for the critical support of both rescue personnel and members of the community.

“Although this was a terrifying experience for all of us at Red Cloud, the bus accident that occurred last Friday could have proved tragic without the extraordinary work of first responders,” said Fr. George Winzenburg, S.J, Red Cloud’s president. “In addition to the brave firefighters, police officers, and EMTs who served at the scene, we are also deeply grateful for the courage of our bus driver, our students, our staff, and all the other community members who offered their support. As we begin the process of healing, we are sending every single one of them our prayers of thanksgiving.”

Red Cloud’s Superintendent Walt Swan Jr. and High School Principal Clare Huerter arrived just moments after the crash. They found the bus in a ditch beside the road, where experienced driver and Red Cloud graduate Glen Gibbons had been able to guide it safely after the initial impact. The front windows were smashed and safety glass had sprayed across the scene. Students were dazed and frightened, and it was obvious that some had injuries that needed immediately treatment.

A full team of rescue personnel—including police officers, firefighters, and EMS technicians—had also raced to the scene to manage the situation. They quickly assessed victims’ injuries and began moving students to the hospital. Gibbons, who took the brunt of the impact and who was injured himself, refused to leave the bus until all the students received medical care. Swan heard Gibbons tell rescuers, “Are the kids all okay? You need to get all the kids off first.” He was the last to be transported to the hospital.

The students involved also came together to support each other. One senior who had learned first aid during a summer health program ignored her own injuries and began checking her fellow classmates and calming them before paramedics arrived. She suspected that one of the younger students on the bus had sustained a head injury—and she stayed with her and kept talking to her until medical personnel took over.

In the wake of the accident, parents and loved ones remained patient as they waited for updates about their children. And Red Cloud teachers, counselors, and other staff stayed at the hospital until late in the evening to provide students and their families with critical support. According to Superintendent Swan, the community’s collective response made all the difference in addressing a traumatic experience.

“The rescue crews that responded to the situation coordinated their work so quickly, and brought a sense of safety and security to our students. Our students waited patiently for directions from first responders—the actions of our bus driver Glen are truly an example of courage and honor,” said Swan.

The accident is the worst the school has ever experienced. While the bus itself was completely totaled, according to one highway trooper, “it did its job.” The seat design protected the students and driver by absorbing the force of impact and shielding them from broken glass. In addition, the careful maintenance provided by Red Cloud’s garage staff ensured that the brakes on the 2004 vehicle were in top condition and able to prevent it from flipping.

Last Tuesday morning, all of the children from kindergarteners to seniors gathered in a large circle behind the church to offer prayers and to show solidarity to one another.  There were hugs and tears as well as a quiet sense of gratitude.  Following a traditional smudging ceremony and drum song, prayers of thanksgiving were offered that the injuries were not more severe, for the bus driver, for the first responders and all who comforted the injured, for the garage mechanics who made sure the brakes were in good working order, and for healing.  Br. Joe, high school counselor, reminded all, “[When] something like this happens, it really brings us together. I think it reminds us of how valuable each person is. The gift of life that we have every day.  That we not take that for granted, but we always do today what we should not put off until tomorrow.  Whether that is to let someone we know that we love them, that we are there to care for them, that we are there to support them whenever they are having a hard time.”


READ MORE!

Red Cloud Student and Graduate Speak at Rapid City’s first TEDxYouth Event

  

A Summer Devoted to Science—Senior Jacob Rosales Participates in a Prestigious Internship at the National Institutes of Health

 

 

In the Shadow of Crazy Horse: Red Cloud Graduate Completes Unique Cultural Summer Program

 


← BACK TO NEWS


Photos © Red Cloud Indian School