A bus accident injuring seven Carolina Mudcats (High Class A; Carolina League) players is causing the cancellation of games today and tomorrow, as the team bus driver has been cited for driving too fast under the conditions.
According to the News & Observer, Janice Coffman, 52, of Vinton, Va., behind the wheel of the Abbot Trailways coach. During a detour, the bus failed to make a curve on Clarendon Chadbourn Road in Columbus County (N.C.), hit a ditch and landed onto its side. She was issued a citation for driving too fast for conditions.
At first it was thought that players and a team trainer suffered from minor injuries, with eight hospitalized. However, the decision was made to postpone three games at TicketReturn.com Field, home of the Myrtle Beach Pelicans, with the players returning to Zebulon to receive additional medical care.
Carolina League President John Hopkins issued the following statement:
For reasons related to Tuesday morning’s bus wreck, the series between the Carolina Mudcats and Myrtle Beach Pelicans will not be played as scheduled. The three-game series was to begin Tuesday and continue through Thursday at Myrtle Beach’s TicketReturn.com Field. The Mudcats team has returned to Zebulon where players and field staff will continue to be medically evaluated. Decisions on rescheduling will be made at a later time.
RELATED STORIES: Mudcats bus crashes; seven players injured