Rescue officials at the scene of the school-bus crash in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Chattanooga Fire Dept/Handout via Reuters

President-elect Donald Trump offered his condolences on Tuesday to the families of victims of the Tennessee bus crash that killed five children and sent nearly two dozen more to the hospital.

"Bus crash in Tennessee so sad & so terrible. Condolences to all family members and loved ones. These beautiful children will be remembered!" Trump said on Twitter.

The crash occurred Monday afternoon as students were being bused home from Woodmore Elementary School in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Three of the children who died were in fourth grade, and the other two were in kindergarten and first grade, Hamilton County's interim schools superintendent told The New York Times. Of the 12 students who remained in the hospital on Tuesday, six were critically injured.

The bus was carrying 37 students, Kelly told The Times. The vehicle normally seats 35 passengers, the police said.

The impact of the crash left the bus tipped on its side and wrapped around a tree. The police said speed was a factor in the accident.

The driver, identified as 24-year-old Johnthony Walker, was arrested and faces five counts of vehicular homicide as well as reckless endangerment and reckless driving charges.

Federal investigators said they would send a team from the National Transportation Safety Board to investigate the crash.

"It's a sad situation any time there's a school bus with children involved, which there is in this case," Gov. Bill Haslam of Tennessee said. He also tweeted the following message:

—Gov. Bill Haslam (@BillHaslam) November 22, 2016