Rescue Bus Rolls, Killing 1

A bus shuttling hurricane victims out of New Orleans crashed Friday, after one of the passengers grew agitated and struggled with the driver, according to police. One person died and 17 were injured.

The driver lost control of the bus in the tussle, and the bus crossed the highway median and overturned, about 130 miles west of New Orleans, police Capt. Mark LeBlanc said.

Of about 50 passengers on board, 17 were injured, police said.

“We have multiple critical injuries and multiple serious injuries and some minor injuries,” said Trooper Willie Williams, spokesman for the state police.

All of the passengers -- many of whom had been getting some much-needed sleep after days inside the Superdome -- were taken to local hospitals.

The bus was the last of five charter buses in a convoy from New Orleans. It was unclear where the storm victims were being taken.

One passenger, however, disputed accounts of a struggle causing the crash.

Steven Francis, 32, of New Orleans, told the Associated Press as he left a hospital for a shelter that he didn’t see anyone threaten the driver or fight with him.

The driver was looking down, away from the road, and swerved to avoid another vehicle, Francis said.

“I thought it was all over for me,” said Francis, who had 15 stitches in a cut on his head.

Richard Grow, 32, of New Orleans, said he and most of the other passengers on the bus were asleep when the accident happened.

He didn’t even know where the bus was traveling.

“I didn’t even think to ask. I was just happy to get out of the Superdome,” he said.