A multi-vehicle collision involving two school buses and five other vehicles left 10 injured and stalled eastbound Interstate 40 traffic Thursday afternoon in the North Little Rock area.
Arkansas State Police and North Little Rock Fire Department officials said the vehicles collided at the John F. Kennedy Boulevard exit, mile marker 153, shortly after 3:30 p.m.
North Little Rock Fire Department Battalion Chief Phil Pounders said the North Little Rock High School football team was riding in both of the buses involved in the accident.
Pounders said five other vehicles — including a tractor-trailer, two trucks, a van and a Toyota Camry — were involved in the accident, and 10 people were injured. Five people were transported to the hospital by ambulance, while the other five transported themselves to local hospitals.
A total of 115 people were involved in the accident, according to Pounders.
Pounders said no students were injured, but one coach who was driving a bus was seriously injured. The driver of the Camry was also transported to the hospital with serious injuries. Two passengers of the Camry, one child and one adult, were also among the injured.
It wasn't immediately known what precipitated the accident.
Danny Straessle, spokesman for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, said both lanes of I-40 eastbound were closed. Officials were clearing the scene as of 5 p.m., but the rush-hour traffic remained stalled in the area.
North Little Rock Superintendent Kelly Rodgers said the students were taken to Belwood Elementary School to be examined by physicians and given food and water.
North Little Rock Athletic Director Gary Davis said the football team is scheduled to play Little Rock Catholic High School at 7:30 p.m. at War Memorial Stadium.
Read Friday's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for more on this story.
Information for this story was contributed by Lisa Burnett, Ashley Nerbovig and Rachel Hook of Arkansas Online.