Six People Hospitalized After Baton Rouge Crash Involving School Bus Carrying GEO Prep Academy Students Near LSU Thursday Afternoon

BATON ROUGE, LA — Six people were taken to the hospital Thursday after a crash involving a school bus carrying GEO Prep Academy students, according to officials. The collision happened on Gourrier Avenue near LSU shortly before 4:30 p.m. Emergency officials said the injured people were in stable condition.

The bus involved belonged to Zachary Community Schools but was operated by First Student, a contracted transportation provider. It had been sent to Baton Rouge to help after a GEO Prep Academy bus experienced mechanical problems, officials said. That bus then became involved in the crash, prompting a response from emergency crews.

What officials said about the bus and the students aboard

Zachary Community Schools quickly moved to clarify that none of its own students or staff were on the bus at the time. In a statement, the district said the vehicle was dispatched to assist with a Geo Prep Academy bus issue in Baton Rouge and was later involved in an accident.

The clarification came after confusion about whose students were on board. The bus was carrying GEO Prep Academy students when the crash happened, but Zachary officials said the trip was not part of a normal student run for their district. The district emphasized that its own students and employees were not among those involved.

First Student says it is working with law enforcement and GEO Academies

First Student, which operates the bus, confirmed that one of its buses transporting students for GEO Academies was involved in an incident in Baton Rouge. The company said the well-being of the students was its main concern and described safety as its top priority.

In its statement, the transportation provider said it was working collaboratively with law enforcement and GEO Academies. No additional details about the collision, including what caused it or how many people were aboard, were immediately made public. The company did not release any further information beyond its confirmation and response.

The crash drew emergency response near a busy LSU area corridor

The collision took place on Gourrier Avenue, a road near LSU that can see heavy traffic, especially in the late afternoon. Because the crash involved a school bus and multiple injuries, emergency officials were called to the scene and hospital transport followed soon after.

Officials have not said how the crash unfolded or what vehicles were involved beyond the bus and a car crash reference in the initial description. They also have not identified the people taken to the hospital. What is known is that six people were evaluated and that responders said all were in stable condition after the incident.

How the incident fits into the earlier bus trouble that sent help to Baton Rouge

The bus was not originally traveling as part of a normal Baton Rouge route. According to officials, it was dispatched after another GEO Prep Academy bus had issues and needed help, creating the chain of events that led the Zachary-operated bus into the city.

That detail explains why a Zachary Community Schools bus was connected to students from GEO Prep Academy. The arrangement involved a contracted provider, First Student, rather than a standard district run. After the crash, neither Zachary officials nor First Student reported any serious injuries, and no further updates were immediately available.

What remains unanswered after the Thursday afternoon collision

Several key questions remain open, including what caused the crash and whether any citations or additional investigations will follow. Officials have not publicly detailed the sequence of events, and no extra information was available at the time of the initial statements.

For now, the confirmed facts are limited to the location, the time, the involvement of a school bus carrying GEO Prep Academy students, and the six hospital transports. Both Zachary Community Schools and First Student have said the focus is on the students’ condition and cooperation with authorities as the situation is reviewed.