20+ Hospitalized After School Bus Crash

BERKLEY, MA -- More than 20 people, with ages ranging from infants to the elderly, were sent to the hospital after a Rhode Island-bound school bus crashed into the woods off Route 24 Saturday night.

State police said early Saturday evening that there were several serious injuries, including some to young children. The number of those injured has changed as police continue their investigation, police said, saying 23 as of 6 p.m. Saturday. Berkley Fire Rescue had said 30 people were injured.

A 27-year-old Warren woman driving another vehicle involved in the crash was arrested on charges of driving under the influence, police said. State police identified the woman as Christy Gilpatrick. It is unclear what role that vehicle played in the crash.

It's Gilpatrick's second OUI charge.

Patients were brought to Rhode Island Hospital, Hasbro Children's Hospital, St. Anne's Hospital, Morton Hospital and Charlton Memorial Hospital. Many were still hospitalized as of Saturday evening.

The crash occurred between exits 10 and 11. The school bus, owned by First Student, Inc. out of Tiverton, R.I., was returning to Tiverton after a field trip to the Christmas lights at La Salette Shrine in Attleboro.

Berkley Fire Rescue called in mutual aid and declared a significant Mass Casualty Incident. More than 20 departments responded.

"I would just like to thank all the mutual aid departments as well as municipal and state police. Last evening was a total team effort. It is the kind of situation we train for and sit in workshops and prepare for, but you really come to appreciate the value of all that planning when see it unfold before you," Berkley Fire Chief Scott Fournier said. "I am also profoundly proud of our emergency responders from the Town of Berkley, including police, dispatch, EMS and fire personnel, who were the first to get the call and arrived on scene during the critical first moments of this emergency."

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