'Should not be alive': Minco head softball coach relives crash, miraculous aftermath

MINCO, Okla. (KFOR) – The head softball coach for Minco Public Schools says it's a miracle he and his team are alive after a rollover bus crash this week.

Cody Schmidt says he was driving the bus with 10 girls softball players and two coaches on board when he hit a deer and crashed along state highway 152 on the outskirts of Minco.

"How are my girls, that is all I cared about," said Schmidt when asked for his thoughts after the crash. "That's all I cared about. They're kids man...It's a whole....that's all me, coach, managing coach care cared about."

The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says several people were seriously hurt in the crash and thrown out of the bus. Schmidt says, as is typical on game nights, parents following the bus were able to quickly spring into action along with other students.

"We had people running into the field," said Schmidt. "We had high school students there helping us that were checking on all of us. We had girls that were on the bus running around, checking everybody and I have no words for it. It's just heroic, incredible, godly."

Schmidt said one of the girls on the bus had to carry him out of the bus after the crash, but he suffered minor injuries as opposed to some others.

"My physical recovery is going to be fine," said Schmidt. "I was sore and I wish I could trade my spot for everybody else on that team."

Despite what state law enforcement reported as several serious and minor injuries, everyone on board survived the crash.

"The 13 of us on the bus should not be alive," said Schmidt. "God. A miracle. I, somebody has a reason for all 13 of us to still be here."

News 4 asked Schmidt about specifics of the crash, due to concerns raised on social media about OHP's preliminary findings tied to the cause of the crash.

"I know what happened," said Schmidt. "I know what our parents saw happen behind us, and I know what our community and the people who truly matter think about us and that's all I care about."

Schmidt told News 4 he wanted to respect the privacy of everyone involved when it came to specifics about how they were doing. He did share that they plan to all get together soon for the first time since the crash.

"We're bonded forever, and I'm just excited for to see them and I know how strong we're going to be in the future," said Schmidt. "I don't even care about the softball side of things just as a family."

News 4 asked him about the support the community, state and country have shown the team since the initial crash. He said they're all blown away by it all and that there are too many people to thank.

"I promise you that it is noticed by everybody in this community in town and it's hard to tell everybody thank you, but it is noticed," said Schmidt.

Friday night, Minco Public Schools says it will have a donation booth at the Bulldogs football game. Attendance to the game is also free.