Nine students were hurt on Tuesday when a car hit a vehicle at a school in Ankeny, Iowa, as reported by local authorities. The accident happened around 3:15 p.m. while parents were lining up to pick up children from St. Luke’s Catholic School on Weigel Street NW.
Officials mentioned that one vehicle in the pickup line veered off the road and struck the students. After the incident, several parents quickly came to assist until emergency personnel arrived, and the injured students were transported to nearby hospitals.
Some of the affected students sustained serious injuries, but specific details about their ages and the extent of their injuries have not been disclosed. The school serves children from kindergarten through eighth grade.
The driver involved, who has not been named, was unharmed and remained on the scene following the accident. Sergeant Trevor McGraw of the Ankeny Police Department stated that the event did not seem to be a deliberate act of violence. Investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the collision, and people are being asked to avoid the area for the time being to facilitate emergency access.
A city official expressed gratitude towards the parents who came to help the injured, and acknowledged the support provided by the teachers and staff during the chaotic situation. The Diocese of Des Moines extended their prayers to the families affected and commended the first responders for their efforts.
