A devastating collision on State Highway 21 in Bastrop County claimed the lives of a child and an adult yesterday, when a concrete truck veered across lanes and struck a Hays CISD school bus returning from a field trip. The bus was transporting 44 preschoolers from Tom Green Elementary along with 11 adults when the the incident unfolded, as reported by FOX San Antonio.
The Texas Department of Public Safety stated that the bus was on its westward journey when it was struck head-on by the eastbound concrete truck, leading to a secondary collision with a Dodge Charger trailing the bus. As noted in a report by the San Antonio Express-News, a child on the bus and the male driver of the Charger were both killed in the tragic event. Their identities have not been released.
Sgt. Deon Cockrell of the Texas Department of Public Safety described the accident as "difficult," a sentiment echoed throughout the community reeling from the shock. "It’s something we actually do for a living, but it’s difficult when you find children this young that are involved in a crash," Cockrell told FOX San Antonio. In total, 51 people suffered injuries, with four in critical condition airlifted and others taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
The emergency response saw coordination from about nine EMS agencies, with an ambulance bus employed to transport around 10 patients with minor injuries to a children's hospital. The extent of the crash necessitated a road closure as first responders managed the scene, which was explained by Cockrell in a statement obtained by San Antonio Express-News as he detailed the process of identifying victims and notifying parents. The road reopened after extensive cleanup efforts past 9 p.m.
Meanwhile, Hays CISD Superintendent Eric Wright expressed his heartbreak in a letter to families, who's sentiment was shared by many, including Texas Sen. John Cornyn who implored people to pray for the affected families via a social media post. Superintendent Wright also commended the bus driver, who despite being injured, focused on the children's care above her own. "Our teachers and school staff have all been commendable and professional in their efforts to help everyone affected by today's unspeakable event," Wright said in the letter reported by FOX San Antonio.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, led by the Texas Department of Public Safety's state crash team. As of yet, there is no clear indication as to why the concrete truck veered into the path of the school bus, and it remains to be seen whether charges will be brought against the truck driver. Updates on the cause will likely take several weeks as the crash reconstruction continues.
