A school bus carrying the Heber Springs High School football team was involved in an wreck early Saturday morning that left at least eight players injured, Arkansas State Police said.
Arkansas State Police responded at approximately 12:40 a.m. Saturday after the bus, driven by Heber Springs Coach Darren Gowen, struck a deer while traveling north on Arkansas 5 just north of Rose Bud, according to a state police release.
The team was returning home from a game Friday night in Stuttgart when the bus was struck by the deer. The bus ran off the right side of the highway and was airborne before coming to rest in a deep ditch, said Kenny Miller with Arkansas State Police Troop B dispatch.
Gowen, who is in his first year as Heber Springs' head coach, was not injured but eight players, all minors, were transported to hospitals in Little Rock, Heber Springs and Searcy.
One player was airlifted to Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock, while six were transported to Baptist Health Medical Center in Heber Springs. Two players were sent to White County Medical Center in Searcy.
The players transported to Heber Springs and Searcy were released Saturday, Heber Springs Superintendent Dr. Alan Stauffacher confirmed when contacted Saturday afternoon. Stauffacher said most suffered bumps and bruises.
"We're all hurt," Stauffacher said. "Our hearts are all saddened. We want to make sure this doesn't happen. We're all about trying to keep our kids safe. It's purely an accident."
Stauffacher declined to identify the names of the players who were injured, citing privacy laws.
None of the injuries were initially reported as life-threatening, Arkansas State Police spokesman Bill Sadler said in an email to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Stauffacher said Heber Springs sent three buses to Stuttgart. One was for players, another for cheerleaders and the third for the band. Several players left Stuttgart with family members or guardians and were not on the bus, Stauffacher said.
The superintendent couldn't confirm how many players were on the bus that wrecked.
Attempts to reach Gowen and Heber Springs Athletic Director Brad Reese were unsuccessful Saturday.
Heber Springs lost 41-8 to Stuttgart in a 2-4A Conference game. The Panthers (2-3, 1-1 2-4A) are scheduled to host Central Arkansas Christian on Friday.
Sports on 10/04/2015