E-Paper
3 killed, several injured in Mississippi bus crash
A casino bus full of tourists overturns in northwestern Mississippi, kills three people and injuring several others.
A casino bus full of tourists overturned in northwestern Mississippi on Sunday, killing three people and injuring several others.
The bus belonged to Harrah's Tunica and was carrying 43 people when it flipped over in a median at an intersection in Tunica, Tunica County spokesman Larry Liddell said.
Tourists on the bus were headed to the airport for a chartered flight to South Carolina, where many were from, officials said. The bus was the only vehicle involved in the accident, which was still under investigation, Mississippi Highway Patrol Sgt. Leslie White said. The bus's roof partially collapsed in the rollover. Its windows were knocked out and the sides were caked in mud. The identities of the passengers who were killed were not immediately released.
Twenty-seven injured people were taken to Baptist Memorial Hospital in Southaven, spokesman Thomas Whitehead said. One was in critical condition and five were being held for observation. The rest had what Whitehead described as minor injuries. Four people were taken to the Regional Medical Center in Memphis, Tennessee, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) to the north. Three remained in critical condition late on Sunday and the other was discharged, spokeswoman Sandy Snell said.
Harrah's Entertainment operates 50 casinos worldwide, including three in Tunica: Harrah's Tunica, Horseshoe Casino and the Sheraton Casino & Hotel. The area along the Mississippi River in the northwest corner of the state is best known for its bustling casinos.
"At this time, we're focusing on the health and welfare of the guests involved in this tragic accident," company officials said in a statement.
The passengers were in Mississippi on a promotional trip offered by the casino, said Harrah's spokesman Patrick Collins. Liddell said Harrah's advertises gambling packages in other states and hosts about 60 chartered flights a month.
