Greg Toppo

USATODAY

Police in Denver said a bus driver was killed and several people were hospitalized with critical injuries Sunday after a school bus carrying a Colorado high school football team crashed into a wall at Denver International Airport.

The bus was from Legacy High School in Broomfield, Colo., KUSA-TV reported. The school, located about 19 miles north of Denver, is part of the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district.

The bus veered off a roadway and crashed into a concrete wall, killing the driver and injuring several passengers, The Denver Post reported.

The bus, one of three carrying team members and coaches, had just picked up passengers when it "inexplicably" circled back to the airport and crashed into a concrete pillar, The Post reported. Airbags deployed but the female bus driver was killed, Denver police Sgt. Mike Farr said. “The bus driver circled back around to this level. We don’t know why,” he said.

Paramedics were working to remove the driver from the crumpled bus.

KDVR-TV reported that 17 to 20 students and coaches from the school's junior varsity team were hospitalized.

The crash happened at 4:08 p.m. MT, airport spokesman Heath Montgomery said.

Legacy’s football teams played Chino Hills (Calif.) High School last week, the school’s athletics website noted.

Police closed the east approach to the airport terminal.

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