UPDATE: Monday, June 10 at 2:15 p.m.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) — The Knox County, KY Sheriff's Department released additional information regarding the incident early Monday morning in which juveniles from the Appalachian Children's Home broke into and stole a bus in Knox County.
The Sheriff's Office reported that at around 2:43 a.m. early Monday morning a Knox County deputy responded to a reported "bus accident" at Central Elementary. Upon arrival, the deputy found a bus that ran through a gate and was stuck.
After further investigation, the department reported that four juveniles had left the home and that two of them allegedly stole the bus from the Knox County School bus garage. The pair then reportedly ran from the scene and then stole another school bus. They were then joined by the other two juveniles, according to the department.
Further, they reportedly drove the bus to Lexington and crashed the bus on Richmond Road, resulting in the arrest of all four juveniles.
The department added that two of the juveniles are in custody and charged with two counts each of "Auto Theft $10,000-$100,000" and a count each of "Criminal Mischief-1st degree" and "Wanton Endangerment-1st degree." The other two juveniles were returned to the children's home, the department noted.
The department said that this is an ongoing investigation.
Original Story:
Knox County Public Schools District Communications Frank Shelton reported on Monday that juveniles from the Appalachian Children's Home allegedly broke into the district's bus garage and stole the bus on Sunday night before wrecking through the garage gate.
According to KCPS, the juveniles used a tool to break the ignition and start the bus, then crashed through the school's locked bus garage gate, in which the gate became attached to the front of the bus.
KCPS said they stopped at Knox Central Elementary School, which is adjacent to the garage, to detach the gate from the bus.
School officials said they learned from the Knox County Sheriff's Office that the juveniles had left the area of the elementary school, and the bus was later recovered in Lexington.
KCPS added they are reviewing the damage to the bus and school properties to determine the amount of repair and replacement.
The following information regarding the juveniles involved was released by KCPS:
We do not have details on the number or ages of the residents from the Children's Home who participated in this runaway attempt and do not know their status at this time.
LEX 18 reached out to the Appalachian Children's Home for a statement, however, they responded with "We have no comment."
The Knox County Sheriff's Office said they will be releasing more information Monday evening.
Check back for the latest updates.
