In the early hours of Saturday morning, August 31, 2024, a routine bus journey turned into a harrowing ordeal on Interstate 20 near Bovina, Mississippi. What began as a cross-country trip ended in tragedy, leaving families devastated and communities shaken.
The commercial bus, operated by Autobuses Regiomontanos, was traveling westbound on I-20 when it suddenly veered off the highway and overturned. The incident occurred around 12:40 a.m., catching passengers off guard as many were likely asleep or settling in for the long journey.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, the crash resulted in seven fatalities and dozens of injuries. Six passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries at a local hospital. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) attributed the crash to tire failure, which caused the bus to roll over.
Master Sgt. Kervin Stewart of the Mississippi Highway Patrol confirmed that the bus was carrying a total of 41 passengers, along with two drivers. The vehicle was identified as a 2018 Volvo commercial passenger bus, making its way from Atlanta to Dallas.
Among the victims were two young siblings – an 8-year-old boy and his 16-year-old sister. Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey shared this heart-wrenching detail, noting that the children were identified by their mother. Authorities are working diligently to identify the other victims and notify their families.
Autobuses Regiomontanos, with headquarters in Mexico, provides commercial bus service between Mexico and various US locations. Their buses were involved in two previous crashes over the past two years. The seven deceased passengers were confirmed to be Mexican nationals.
The aftermath of the crash saw a massive emergency response. Thirty-seven passengers were transported to hospitals in Vicksburg and Jackson, Mississippi. The extent of their injuries varied.
Vicksburg Mayor George Flaggs praised the swift action of local first responders, particularly the Vicksburg Fire Department. He stated, “The Vicksburg Fire Department did nothing short of what I thought they would do. They responded amazingly and quickly, and they did what they had to do in an unfortunate situation. It exhausted all our resources last night.”
The NTSB quickly mobilized in response to the incident. The agency announced on social media platform X that it was coordinating with the Mississippi Highway Patrol and dispatched investigators to the crash site on Sunday.
The Mississippi Highway Patrol is continuing its investigation into the crash. As of now, the names of the deceased have not been released, pending notification of next of kin. The authorities have not provided additional information beyond the initial details of the incident.