This morning a school bus transporting 45 people overturned in Riverdale, and the driver and several students were injured and had to be taken to nearby hospitals, said Mark E. Brady, the chief spokesman for the Prince George’s County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Department.

The accident occurred shortly before 9 a .m, while the bus was heading to William Wirt Middle School in Riverdale. The bus overturned while making a left- hand turn from Riverdale Road onto 61st Place. Apparently, no other vehicle has been involved in the accident, but the investigation is being carried on, the Washington Post informs. Authorities say that the bus is lying on its side, blocking the street.

According to a Prince George County police major the driver might have lost control of the vehicle while engaging in the left-hand turn at great speed: “Our preliminary investigation reveals the driver of the school bus failed to yield the right-of-way to oncoming traffic on Riverdale Road when he turned left onto 61st [Place]. He will be charged with failure to yield to oncoming traffic and his speed was certainly greater than reasonable,” Major Davis said.

The driver suffered the most serious injuries, although not life-threatening, and he was taken to a trauma center, Brady said. Three to five students were taken to hospital, where they are being cared for by the medical staff.

The rest of the students were transported by ambulances, school bus or fire department vehicles to hospitals for an evaluation, as part of a standard procedure.

Prince George’s County schools spokesman John White said that bus number 1156, running on route 306, was only a few blocks from William Wirt Middle School.