Six people were killed and another six were hurt early Friday when a charter bus hit an overpass on Interstate 40 in Arkansas, police said.
The bus was traveling westbound in North Little Rock when it crashed shortly before 1 a.m., ejecting some passengers, Bill Bryant, director of the Arkansas State Police, said at a news conference Friday. All of the injured were treated at local hospitals and have been released.
"First and foremost, this is a tragedy," Bryant said. "On arriving at the scene, there were six fatalities so our thoughts and prayers go out to these families who lost their loved ones this morning."
Twenty-two people were aboard the bus, which was headed from Monroe, Michigan, to Laredo, Texas, officials said.
Three passengers, including the driver, were employed by Vasquez Citrus and Hauling. The Lake Placid, Florida, based company is cooperating with the investigation.
Driver Roberto Vasquez, 28, agreed to be tested for drugs or alcohol as is routinely done under state law, but state police said there is no indication that was part of the crash.
Light rain was falling at the time of the accident, which will be investigated by the National Transportation and Safety Board, authorities said.
