Crash of 2 school buses in Tennessee under federal investigation

A school bus crash in Knoxville, Tenn., that killed two students and one adult Tuesday is now the focus of an investigation that includes the National Transportation Safety Board.

NTSB officials will travel Wednesday to help the Knoxville Police Department’s Fatal Accident Investigation Unit, which is leading the inquiry into the unusual crash that involved two school buses.

The crash occurred along Asheville Highway in East Knoxville on Tuesday afternoon. Two buses, one from Chilhowee Intermediate School and the other from Sunnyview Primary School, were shuttling students home when, authorities said, the bus from Chilhowee made a sharp turn and crossed a concrete median, striking the Sunnyview bus.

Those killed were identified Wednesday as Zyquese Burns, 6, Serya Glasper, 8, and Kimberly Riddle, 46.

Two children and an adult were taken to the University of Tennessee Medical Center and were in stable condition Wednesday. Twenty students were treated at East Tennessee Children’s Hospital. All had been discharged by Wednesday morning, hospital officials said.

Law enforcement officials said Wednesday that both buses had video cameras and the footage is under review by investigators.

In an interview with WBIR-TV, Chilhowee Intermediate School fifth-grader Joy Reinmann described the accident.

“The road was really slippery,” Joy said, noting that after the crash it was as if “everyone almost blacked out.”

“Everyone was on the floor, screaming and crying,” said Joy, who was taken to the children’s hospital as a precaution.

Knoxville police said Wednesday that they plan to release the names of the victims.

Classes on Wednesday have been canceled at the two affected schools, but will be open and counselors will be available to students if needed, said Knox County Schools Supt. Jim McIntyre.

Follow @kurtisalee and email kurtis.lee@latimes.com