MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (KLTV) - Some Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill ISD students are injured after a vehicle wrecked into a CiCi’s Pizza restaurant.
According to a Facebook post from Chapel Hill ISD at 12:10 p.m., some sixth-grade students who were inside the restaurant on a field trip were injured. According to Mount Pleasant Police Chief Mark Buhman, a total of 10 people were taken to the hospital, and one is in critical condition.
A later update from the district said emergency responders were at the scene within minutes, and the injured were taken to nearby medical facilities for further care.
First responders, including officers with the Mount Pleasant Police Department, responded to the scene on the 600 block of South Jefferson Avenue.
The district’s update said all uninjured students were either reunited with their parents or taken back to campus. Staff and counselors are available for student and family support.
Mount Pleasant Police Chief Mark Buhman said it is believed the 79-year-old driver of a Toyota 4-Runner may have backed into a pickup and then reacted and drove into Cici’s. Buhman said 30 to 50 students were at the restaurant with many outside. The driver of the SUV checked out OK.
According to a Mount Pleasant police press release, dispatch was notified at 11:20 a.m. of a vehicle striking a building. Of the injured, six were juveniles and four were adults.
On their website, the school said counselors will be available on campus throughout the day Friday for any students or staff.
“In the wake of today’s events, we recognize that many members of our school community may need time and space to process their thoughts and emotions,” Mount Pleasent Chapel Hill ISD said in part. “We encourage families to speak with their children tonight and remind them that support will be readily available tomorrow, and in the days ahead. As always, our top priority remains the well-being of our students, staff, and families.”