Driver killed, multiple injured after bus carrying high schoolers crashes into ravine

The driver of a bus carrying Texas high school band students has died and numerous people are injured after the bus crashed down a steep embankment off the side of an Alabama interstate, authorities said.

At 5:33 a.m., the tour bus, which was headed west on Interstate 10 toward Houston, careened near the highway median and ended up in a 50-foot ravine, Lt. Joe Piggott of the Alabama Highway Patrol said in a statement.

Baldwin County Sheriff Mack said emergency units were dispatched to evacuate and extricate the passengers. Some were carried out by police deputies, others were brought to the surface by firefighters who rappeled down the ravine.

Forty students and six adults were on the bus at the time, according to the school district.

The crash was "in the dark of night, and we are down in a ravine next to a creek," Mack said, so "it was a large scale effort."

Dewayne Benson, 15, was on one of two buses traveling home from Walt Disney World, according to his sister, Sydney Benson.

"He was asleep until the band director started screaming," Sydney Benson, 19, told ABC News.

She said her brother called the family from a hospital in Pensacola, Florida, and does not seem to be injured.

Injured passengers were taken to hospitals in Baldwin County as well as Sacred Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, Piggott said.

First Class Tours, which owns the bus, identified the deceased driver as one of its employees, Harry Caligone.

"Harry was a long-time driver for our company and we are deeply saddened for this loss. We offer our heartfelt condolences to his family," First Class Tours said in a statement.

"Our prayers are with the injured and their families at this time," the statement added. "We pledge our assistance in cooperating with local authorities in the investigation."

The students are from Channelview High School, said Mark Kramer, spokesman for the Channelview Independent School District.

The school district said in a statement, "Our thoughts and prayers go out to our students, employees, and families that have been affected by this tragedy.

"We are aware of numerous injuries," the district said. "We are now focused on getting everyone back safely to our community. We are extremely grateful for the first responders, hospital employees, and volunteers from churches and schools in Alabama and Florida that have stepped up to help our students and comfort them though this difficult situation. Those communities have opened their hearts and arms to our children and employees. They have provided resources, support, and a safe and welcoming environment while we work through the logistics of reuniting our families."

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted, "Please join Cecilia & me in prayer and support for the Channelview students harmed by this bus crash."

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) were investigating the accident.

ABC News' Rachel Katz and Gina Sunseri contributed to this report.