Today is Saturday, May 14th, 2022.

On this day in 1988, a drunk driver collided with a school bus in Carrollton, Kentucky,

killing 27 of the passengers on board.

Welcome to Today in True Crime, a Spotify original from Parcast. Due to the graphic nature of today's crimes, listener discretion is advised.

This episode features descriptions of car crashes, manslaughter, and alcohol abuse.

We advise extreme caution for children under 13.

Today we're covering the Carrollton bus collision.

After crashing into an oncoming vehicle, the bus erupted in flames,

taking the lives of more than two dozen people.

Now let's go back to Carrollton, Kentucky on May 14,

1988.

It was a tiring day for the Assembly of God Church Youth Group.

The 63 teens and their four adult chaperones

were exhausted on the bus ride home from Kings Island

amusement park. At 10.55 p.m., almost halfway through their 165-mile journey, the bus was driving

down Interstate 71. While passing through the town of Carrollton, a black Toyota pickup truck appeared before them.

Only, it was on the wrong side of the road, and headed directly towards the bus.

The driver saw the truck's headlights and panicked.

At the last second, he wrenched the vehicle and swerved the bus to the left,

but it was too late to avoid

the oncoming vehicle.

They collided head on.

...