A trooper chase spilled into southeast San Antonio on Friday morning and ended with an East Central ISD school bus getting rear-ended, a 21-year-old driver sprinting through a Walmart parking lot, and a stack of felony charges waiting for him, authorities say.
The crash happened around 9:25 a.m. near U.S. Highway 87 and Loop 410, where state troopers were trying to stop an SUV. Investigators say the vehicle, a black Ford Explorer, slammed into the back of the ECISD bus, then the driver bailed out and took off on foot. He was caught minutes later in the parking lot of a nearby Walmart and taken into custody.
According to WOAI, troopers had been pursuing the Explorer from a neighboring county before it hit the bus. The station identified the driver as Brandon Xavior Cortina and reported that he had an active warrant out of Victoria County. Cortina was booked on charges that include evading arrest, failure to stop and provide information, and multiple counts of aggravated assault tied to the people on the bus, officials told the outlet.
Local context: past bus incidents
East Central ISD buses have seen their share of trouble recently. In a 2024 crash involving an 18-wheeler, several students were treated for what were described as mostly minor injuries, KSAT reported. The San Antonio Express-News also covered that collision and noted the district confirmed 13 students and one adult were taken to hospitals with minor injuries.
Charges and legal exposure
WOAI reports Cortina faces multiple counts of aggravated assault tied to people on the bus, along with evading-related charges. Under Texas law, aggravated assault is defined in Penal Code §22.02 and can be prosecuted as a serious felony depending on the circumstances. Evading arrest in a vehicle falls under Penal Code §38.04, which allows for tougher penalties when a suspect flees in a car or truck.
Parents worried about bus routes or how students are reunited after an incident can use East Central ISD’s transportation resources, including the district’s “Here Comes the Bus” page, which lists real-time tracking tools and a transportation office phone number. Authorities say the investigation into Friday’s crash is ongoing and that more details, including formal court filings, will be released as the case moves through the system.
