Bellevue Reporter staff

A charter bus carrying 38 people, most of them members of the Bellevue High School football team flipped on its side Friday morning as the team was headed to Tacoma for a state playoff game.

The accident occurred on southbound I-5 at South 216th Street about 11 a.m. Eight of the team members were taken to local hospitals. The most serious of the injuries were said to be concussions.

Firefighters on the scene said the students were lucky that so few injuries occurred. Many of the players already had their lower football pads on at the time of the accident.

All members of the team were able to climb from the bus on their own.

According to the Washington State Patrol, a vehicle lost a ladder, causing the accident involving two cars, a semi-truck and the bus. The driver of the vehicle that lost the ladder drove away from the scene, Patrol officers said.

“It’s a criminal investigation,” said Trooper Cliff Pratt of the accident.

It’s a violation of state law to have an unsecured load on a vehicle.

The injured Bellevue players were taken to either Harborview, Valley or Auburn hospitals. Other team members were transported back to Bellevue High School.

The football team was scheduled to play Capital of Olympia Friday at 1 p.m. in the Tacoma Dome. That game has been postponed.