The truck driver at the center of the deadly Hays CISD bus crash that killed a 5-year-old student and a University of Texas graduate student will be eligible to apply for parole on April 19, 2026. For families, school leaders, and local officials, even the possibility of an early release is ripping open the wounds left by the March 22, 2024, wreck.
According to CBS Austin, 44-year-old Jerry Hernandez is currently housed at the Stiles Unit, with a parole eligibility date of April 19, 2026, and a projected release date of March 22, 2042. The outlet reports that community members and representatives for victims are already pressing the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles to reject any early release attempt.
Sentence, Plea Deal and Timeline
Hernandez accepted a plea agreement and pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter. He was sentenced to 18 years in September 2025, according to the Hays Free Press. As part of the deal, prosecutors dismissed two additional counts of criminally negligent homicide. The agreement allows Hernandez to seek parole after serving one-third of his sentence, and credit for time he had already spent in custody moved his eligibility date up.
The Crash and Its Toll
On March 22, 2024, investigators say a concrete pump truck crossed the center line on State Highway 21 in Bastrop County and slammed into a Hays CISD bus that was returning from a zoo field trip, causing the bus to roll over. Five-year-old Ulises Montoya Rodriguez and 33-year-old Ryan Wallace were killed, and dozens of pre-K students and adult chaperones were treated for injuries, as reported by KUT and other outlets.
How Parole Works and How to Weigh In
Parole eligibility does not mean automatic release. The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles reviews the severity of the crime, an inmate’s conduct behind bars, and statements from victims and the public before deciding whether to grant parole. The board’s guidance says victims and community members can submit written, audio, or video statements, and that there is no required format. Instructions for sending information are laid out in a document from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles.
Community Reaction
Hays CISD school board member Courtney Runkle has been urging residents to contact the parole board and share their views on whether Hernandez should get out early. The attorney representing the families of victims has also condemned the prospect of parole. “There is no parole from grief,” attorney Jason Feltoon said, according to CBS Austin.
What’s Next
The upcoming eligibility date simply gives Hernandez the right to apply for parole. If he does, the board will review his case file, his record inside the prison system, and any statements submitted by victims before making a decision on discretionary release. Families say they plan to keep sending letters to the board if Hernandez moves forward with a parole bid, and Hays CISD officials say the district is continuing to focus on supporting students and staff affected by the crash, according to the Hays Free Press.
