At Pine Ridge Middle School in Lexington School District Two, South Carolina, a tragic accident occurred on April 17, 2025. A school bus carrying around 35 students and 3 adults overturned on Interstate 77 in Chester County after a tire blew out. The bus was returning from a field trip outside Charlotte, North Carolina, when it traveled off the road, struck a guardrail, and flipped over

. As a result of the crash, one 13-year-old eighth-grade student, Jose Maria Gonzalez Linares, died at the scene from blunt force trauma. Several other students and adults were injured, with 21 people hurt and 38 transported to local hospitals, including three airlifted by helicopter. Most injured have since been released, but some remain hospitalized with major injuries

. The community of Pine Ridge Middle School has been mourning the loss and supporting those affected. The school district has provided counselors, social workers, and psychologists to support students, staff, and families. They also set up a community donation link to assist families in need

. Emergency responders, law enforcement, and school personnel responded promptly to the incident. The South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the crash

. In summary, the incident at Pine Ridge Middle School involved a fatal bus crash caused by a blown tire, resulting in one student death and multiple injuries, deeply impacting the school community