The cause of a bus crash in Mississippi that killed two young brothers and five passengers and injured several others has been revealed.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said the accident early Saturday morning was likely caused by a “tire failure.”
“The NTSB, in coordination with the Mississippi Highway Patrol, is sending an investigative team to conduct a safety investigation into the crash that occurred Saturday on Interstate 20 near Vicksburg, Mississippi, when a tire failed, causing a bus to leave the road and overturn,” the NTSB newsroom said in a post on X.
The single-vehicle crash involving a 2018 Volvo commercial bus happened around 12:40 a.m. in Warren County, according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol.
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Emergency crews converge on the scene of a bus crash near Vicksburg, Mississippi early Saturday morning. (WDBD/WLBT)
A 17-person investigation team arrived on scene Sunday morning and will continue to investigate the accident, NTSB official Thud Inman said at a news conference Saturday night.
“First, I would like to express my condolences to those affected by this accident. All of us at the NTSB offer our heartfelt sympathies,” Inman said.
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At least seven people were killed and dozens injured after a bus overturned on Interstate 20 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. (WDBD/WLBT)
Asked what type of tire failure may have occurred, Inman said he was looking at three or four factors that could have caused the accident.
Inman said those factors include the vehicle safety carrier itself, Mexican carriers operating in the U.S., tire maintenance and occupant protection.
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“Six passengers were pronounced dead at the scene, one died at Merit Health Hospital in Vicksburg,” the Mississippi Highway Patrol said in a statement. “The 37 passengers were transported to separate hospitals in Vicksburg and Jackson with injuries of unknown severity. The front seat driver was not transported.”
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Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey told Fox News Digital that two of the victims who died were brothers, ages 6 and 16.
Inman added that the bus's itinerary is not yet known and more will be learned as the investigation progresses. A download of the bus information should show where the bus departed from and the bus ticket, Inman said.
Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this report.
