A 16-year-old junior at Clear Lake High School is recovering from severe injuries after a school bus struck him while he was riding his bicycle and dragged him roughly 30 feet, according to his mother. Jakxon Kessler was hit near the Houston-area campus on Oct. 16, and his family says he has since endured multiple surgeries, blood transfusions and a weekend in intensive care.
Kessler was transported to UTMB Health's Clear Lake campus following the crash, according to localmemphis.com. His mother, Brandie Kessler, said she first learned of the crash through a phone call. His father, Andy Kessler, described it as every parent's worst nightmare. Brandie said the experience was very scary as a parent. She said her son's right ear was torn halfway off, both of his shoulder blades were broken, and he suffered multiple fractures down his spine.
Doctors have Kessler on a path toward recovery, though it will be a long one. He is making progress, the outlet reports, but he will need to remain hospitalized and undergo physical therapy in the weeks ahead. Houston police are investigating the crash, Clear Creek ISD said, though the district has declined to release details about Kessler's medical condition, citing privacy laws.
District Confirms Response, Withholds Details
Clear Creek ISD said school staff and emergency personnel responded immediately after the crash and transported the student to the hospital. Beyond that account, the district has not disclosed how the collision occurred or who was driving the bus, leaving many of the circumstances surrounding the crash unclear for now.
Kessler's father, Andy Kessler, said the family is simply relieved their son survived and intends to support him through his recovery. Brandie Kessler echoed that sentiment, saying the crash was a frightening experience for any parent to go through.
Parents Push for Changes at Drop-Off and Dismissal
Jakxon's parents say they want to see more supervision of buses and students during arrival and dismissal at Clear Lake High School. Brandie Kessler said someone needs to manage the chaos that unfolds during those times, pointing to the crowded, fast-moving conditions around campus as buses and students converge.
An online fundraiser has been organized to help the family cover medical expenses, household bills and income lost while Jakxon's parents focus on his recovery, according to the report.
A Broader Pattern Around School Bus Safety
Kessler's crash arrives amid broader concerns about safety around school buses nationwide. In Texas alone, seven people were killed and 85 seriously injured in 2,358 crashes involving school buses in 2025, with speeding and distracted driving identified as leading factors, according to the Texas Department of Transportation. Nationally, NHTSA data cited by the Texas Department of Public Safety shows 1,069 people were killed in 962 fatal school-bus-related crashes between 2015 and 2024, including 204 school-age children.
A separate incident elsewhere illustrates how quickly these situations can turn dangerous even without a collision. A 4-year-old in New York was dragged approximately 15 feet after her backpack became caught in a school bus door on Sept. 23, with the driver traveling that distance before realizing what had happened and stopping, according to School Transportation News. That child was not physically injured, state police said, and the local school district opened its own administrative investigation after being notified. The outlet also noted that technology capable of detecting objects caught in bus doors exists but remains in limited use.
For now, the Kessler family is focused on Jakxon's recovery while Houston police continue investigating what led to the crash near Clear Lake High School.
