Bellevue players back on field day after crash

BELLEVUE, Wash. -- The Bellevue High School football team hit the practice field Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after a harrowing bus crash.

The players were high on spirit but not without aches and pains. The Wolverines lined up with sore necks, achy backs, bumps and bruises.

"Well, my neck's messed up. You know, I woke up with a lot of pain," said player Cam Warren.

Things could have easily taken a tragic turn on Friday when the team's chartered bus with 38 people on board overturned on Interstate 5 in Des Moines on its way to the Tacoma Dome for a playoff game.

The Washington State Patrol said the bus driver suddenly veered to avoid hitting a wayward ladder that had fallen off a pickup truck. The bus then slammed into a semi before it flipped onto its side.

"Traffic went from 70 to nothing all of a sudden," said assistant coach Pat Jones. "The bus driver veered hard to his right, hit a semi that was also slamming on its brakes. That veered us way more to the right where we hit the guardrail, slid, and hit the hill (raised embankment along the shoulder). We were still probably going about 50 when we hit that hill, and then we flipped all the way over."

Ten people were sent to the hospital, none with serious injuries.

For the Wolverines, who were already jittery before a big game, the collision was chaotic and frightening.

"I don't think people really understand how much a miracle (it was) no one was seriously hurt. We were going 60 and flipped on a bus," said Warren.

The coaches say with such a critical game still to be played, they're very impressed how the players have responded in the wake of the crash. And that this very close call has created an unexpected benefit in what's been a trying football season.

"I think the accident really brought us together," said assistant coach Rick Brown. "It let us know from the beginning when we were close and tight as a team, if there was any part that we may be slipping on, this really unified these guys. This team is now more unified than ever."

"Everyone's pretty much focused, more focused now," Warren said. "everyone understands how lucky we really are. Someone's watching over us, you know."

The Washington Interscholastic Activities Association said the game has been postponed to 7 p.m. Monday at Harry Lang Stadium in Lakewood. The 12-0 Bellevue Wolverines will play the 9-3 Capital Cougars in the Class 3A semifinals.

Officials said the driver of the pickup truck that lost the ladder could face criminal charges, and investigators are working to track down the driver.