UPDATE: Harrisburg teacher dies after bus, truck crash on Route F in Boone County

UPDATE 11:16 P.M.: According to the crash report, the driver of the truck involved in the two-vehicle crash is Brandon Brill, 26, of Clark. He and two of the students have serious injuries from the crash.

UPDATE 5:23 P.M.: The Harrisburg school district has released a statement, confirming that Brian Simpson, a history teacher and coach, was the man that died in the crash.

School will not be in session tomorrow for Harrisburg, and all evening activities for Thursday and Friday have been canceled. Monday Parent/Teacher Conferences will be rescheduled as well. You can read the entire statement below:

Dear Harrisburg School Community,

It is with a very heavy heart that I am informing you that a bus carrying our cross country team was involved in a serious accident this afternoon that resulted in the death of Brian Simpson, a beloved history teacher and coach. The accident also resulted in injuries to several of the student athletes. We are all shocked and saddened by these events.

We need our staff, parents and community to know that our first priority is to tend to the well-being of Mr. Simpson’s family and our students.

School will not be in session tomorrow as we will work together to support the Simpson family, as well as the needs of our students and staff. We will have additional counselors at the schools tomorrow who will be available to support any student or staff member as needed. We will also continue to provide counseling next week.

At this time we do not have all the details of the situation, so we cannot address specifics.

We have made contact with the families of all those on the bus. We have also had the opportunity to meet with district staff to let them know of the situation.

Please join us in keeping all of those involved in the accident in your thoughts and prayers.

Sincerely,

Steve Combs
Superintendent

UPDATE 3:42 P.M.: Six people were on the bus, including the bus driver. The other five people were girls on the Harrisburg cross country team.

The five girls have minor to moderate injuries. The girl that was transported to the hospital has a “walking injury,” but was taken to the hospital anyway.

Investigators say that the driver of the truck was in the wrong lane and swerved into the bus. The bus caught fire after the crash and the driver of the truck was flown to the hospital with serious injuries after being extricated from the truck.

UPDATE 3:28 P.M.: ABC 17 News has confirmed that a school bus and a truck crashed head-on. The driver of the school bus has died.

The medical examiner has been called to the scene.

ORIGINAL STORY: Multiple units have responded to a vehicle crash on Route F in Boone County between Route 22 and Everett Carr Road.

ABC 17 News is headed to the scene. Crews are working to find out how the crash happened and if there are any injuries.

Route F is expected to be closed for two hours, according to MoDOT.

This story will be updated with information as it becomes available.