School started off with weeping, prayer, fire trucks andambulances in front of Enterprise Attendance Center as severalchildren were injured in an accident at the intersection of Highway583 and Topisaw Drive this morning.

Authorities at the scene said a gray minivan containing severalchildren attempted to turn onto Topisaw Drive at 7:53 a.m. and wasstruck by a red 1997 Dodge Ram in a front-to-front collision. Theaccident happened within throwing distance of the classroomwindows.

The southbound minivan flipped backwards and came to rest on itsside in the eastern ditch. The northbound truck slid to a stopbestride both lanes.

Everyone in the minivan, including the driver and severalchildren ranging from elementary school age to junior high, wereinjured – some seriously – and taken to King’s Daughters MedicalCenter. Their names and information on their conditions wereunavailable.

The Brookhaven Fire Department’s Jaws of Life were needed tofree occupants from the minivan.

Authorities said no one in the truck, driven by Shanan E. Case,36, was injured. That included two children who were riding withher.