Charlotte, NC : Eight students, drivers injured after school bus crash on The Plaza at Barrington Drive on Thursday morning, January 7, 2016

Eleven people, including eight students, were taken to the hospital following a school bus crash in Charlotte Thursday morning, officials say.

The accident happened around 8 a.m. on The Plaza at Barrington Drive.

Police say 29-year-old Shaquilla Miller, driving a 2002 Cadillac Escalade, ran a red light while turning left onto Barrington Drive, striking the front of the school bus.

Bus 704, servicing John Morehead Stem Academy, traveled off the right side of the road and struck two trees, officials say.

The Escalade caught fire after the collision.

Chataqua Ellison works at a nearby Daycare center. She immediately ran to the scene to help.

“I saw the smoke coming out of the truck, so I came out of my classroom and I saw the smoke and I said that car is going to catch on fire,” Ellison said. “I then went back and grabbed a fire extinguisher.”

Ellison said she was able to keep the fire at bay until firefighters showed up.

Meanwhile, Boyce Alexander was helping kids get off the bus.

“We went to the back (of the bus), a lady and I, and a lady opened the back door and then we got all the kids off,” Alexander said. “The bus driver was the last one to come off. The main thing was the safety of the kids.”

Miller, the students and the bus driver were taken to Carolinas Medical Center with minor injuries, officials say.

CMC officials said some kids were treated from minor “bumps and bruises.”

Inbound lanes on The Plaza were closed for a time.

Police say the investigation is ongoing. No word on possible charges.

Source :

Eight students, drivers sent to hospital after Charlotte school bus crash