Minco high school softball team bus crash leaves three in critical condition

Several Minco High School softball players and coaches remain hospitalized after a devastating school bus crash on Monday night. The Oklahoma Highway Patrol reported on Tuesday that one adult and two juveniles are in critical condition in Oklahoma City hospitals. 

OHP said the adult male passenger in critical condition has life-threatening injuries; his name has not been released. Troopers said Minco's head high school softball coach was driving the bus when it crashed.

Minco school district superintendent Kevin Sims is still coming to grips with the bus crash that carried the high school softball team and coaches.

"It wasn't until I got out there, I realized how critical the situation was," said Sims. 

Troopers and area law enforcement raced to the scene on State Highway 152. Investigators learned the crash happened when the team's coach, Cody Schmidt, swerved to avoid hitting a deer.

"Which it ultimately did strike and overturned one complete time coming to rest on its wheels," said Lt. Mark Southall. 

Southall said four of the 18 people on the bus were ejected.

"There were seven total injuries," said Southall. "The driver and six passengers."

Sims confirmed the only seatbelt on the bus was for the driver. OHP said Schmidt was buckled in. Sims is grateful everyone survived.

"I've known these kids their whole lives, for the most part," said Sims. "When you see them injured, see the coaches injured a lot goes through your mind. You have to keep your cool and composure and God helped me do that but God's helping them more."

In addition to the critical injuries, OHP reports two adults had non-serious injuries and two students had non-serious injuries.

Donations to the softball team can be made to the First National Bank and Trust in Minco.