Numerous students and staff were injured after a bus carrying a high school wrestling team crashed into an SUV in the Denver metropolitan area on the evening of Saturday, Dec. 6.
On Sunday, Dec. 7, the Lakewood Police Department noted in a press release that officers were alerted to a crash that occurred on Saturday at around 7:33 p.m. at the intersection of Kipling Parkway and West 6th Ave.
On arrival, officials discovered that the incident involved a school bus and an SUV, with CBS News noting that the high school students were returning from a wrestling tournament.
“Several people from both vehicles were transported from the scene to area hospitals for treatment,” authorities said in their release. “At this time, we can confirm that the crash involved one or more individuals being ejected.”
They added, “No additional information will be released at this time regarding injuries or conditions of those involved in the crash.”
Lakewood Police Department/Facebook
A spokesperson from West Metro Fire Rescue confirmed in an email to PEOPLE that 14 people were transported to the hospital, five of whom were in a critical condition and nine of whom were non-critical.
The fire service also noted that all four people who had been travelling in the SUV were taken to the hospital, while ten people who had been bus passengers were hospitalized, including eight students and two coaches.
Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. They’re also identifying whether speed or alcohol were contributing factors, per their release.
“The families of those involved are requesting privacy at this time,” they concluded.
Mesa County Valley School District 51 also confirmed in a press release that several students and wrestling staff were in the hospital receiving treatment.
“Out of respect for the families and to protect the integrity of the ongoing investigation, we encourage our community to avoid sharing unverified information,” they added. “Please rely only on updates that come directly from District 51 or the Lakewood Police Department, who is the lead agency and the only agency authorized to share details about the incident.”
PEOPLE has contacted Lakewood Police and the school district for further comment, but didn’t immediately receive a reply.
