Charter Bus Rolls Off Mississippi Highway; 32 People Sent To Hospitals After Crash

BOND, Miss. (AP) _ A chartered bus carrying hotel employees rolled into a highway ditch Wednesday after the driver reached for a map, injuring 32 people, authorities said. <br/><br/>Staff Sgt. James Snyder

Wednesday, March 14th 2007, 5:01 pm

By: News On 6

BOND, Miss. (AP) _ A chartered bus carrying hotel employees rolled into a highway ditch Wednesday after the driver reached for a map, injuring 32 people, authorities said.

Staff Sgt. James Snyder of the Mississippi Highway Patrol said the bus driver lost control and rolled the vehicle after taking a wrong turn. The driver turned onto U.S. 49 but headed south instead of north toward Jackson, Snyder said. The driver realized his mistake about 5 miles after making the turn.

``That's when the driver actually reached down to look at the map and dropped it, according to his own statements,'' Snyder said. ``He reached over to get it and lost control of the bus.''

The bus was one of two charters taking Jamaican immigrants who worked for a hotel chain from Tallahassee, Fla., to Jackson, Snyder said.

There was no immediate word on the conditions of those hurt, but none of their injuries were considered life-threatening, Snyder said.