Woman charged with OUI, several injured after bus crashes into Berkley woods

An investigation has been launched by the Massachusetts State Police after a car collided with a school bus in Berkley late Saturday night, injuring several people.

The department said the crash occurred on Route 24 southbound south of Exit 11 at around 9:45 p.m.

Mass. State Police said 25 occupants were aboard the bus, ranging in age from adult to young children. Two adults were taken to Rhode Island Hospital with serious injuries, and all occupants were accounted for and transported for either injuries or precautionary reasons.

"There was approximately 25 patients on the ground spread out," Berkley Fire Chief Scott Fournier said of the incident, which he called the worst motor vehicle accident he's ever seen.

The chief called in mutual aid, and declared it a mass casualty incident.

"Mass casualties is anything more than the local resources can handle," Fournier said.

As of Sunday afternoon, the two adults with serious injuries were still in the hospital, and Mass. State Police had said some others were seriously injured and remained hospitalized, as well.

Police said most of the bus passengers were taken to area hospitals with injuries that included multiple broken bones.

Late Sunday, Massachusetts State Police identified the passengers as employees, families and friends of First Student, the owner of the bus.

Both the bus and the car, a 2014 Subaru Impreza, veered off from the road and into a wooded area along the road.

The driver of the car was arrested by State Police for driving under the influence of alcohol.

Christy Gilpatrick, 27, of Warwick, Rhode Island was arrested and charged with a second offense OUI, negligent operation of a motor vehicle and marked lanes violation. Gilpatrick is being held on $10,000 cash bail pending her arraignment in court.

Police could not confirm if the driver being under the influence was the cause of the crash.

Police say she wasn't injured in the crash and they are still investigating to determine which vehicle may have caused the crash.

A local towing company was working into the next morning to get the bus out of the wooded area.

Police said that, while the bus went off the road into the woods, it did not roll over and remained upright.

Multiple ambulances were needed to transport the victims to the Charlton and Morton Hospitals.

The bus was going from the LaSalette Shrine in Attleboro, which features a popular display of Christmas lights, and heading back to Tiverton, Rhode Island.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation, Taunton and Berkley EMS were all on scene assisting with the incident.

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Taunton Police said Route 24 south was temporarily shut down at exit 11. Vehicles were being detoured off at Exit 11, according to MassDOT.

Taunton Police said the left lane on Route 24 south was re-opened at 11:06 p.m.

All lanes were re-opened by 1:30 a.m. on Sunday.

Cox Media Group