On a tragic Friday afternoon in Texas, a devastating accident occurred involving a school bus filled with young pre-K students from Tom Green Elementary. The students were on their way back from a joyful field trip to a zoo in Bastrop County when the incident unfolded, leaving at least two people dead, including one child.
The bus, which was carrying 44 students and 11 adults, met with disaster in Bastrop County, roughly 40 miles southeast of Austin. A concrete truck, traveling east, veered into the opposite lane, colliding with the westbound school bus around 2 p.m. This collision caused several children to be ejected from the bus, according to Sgt. Deon Cockrell of the Texas Department of Public Safety. In the chaos that ensued, a man driving a Dodge Charger also crashed into the bus and was pronounced dead at the scene. His connection to the school group remains unclear. The concrete truck’s driver is cooperating with the authorities as they decide whether charges will be filed.
The aftermath of the crash saw 32 individuals rushed to hospitals, with injuries ranging from minor to critical. The bus, a 2011 model lacking seatbelts—a feature included in buses manufactured post-2017—highlighted concerns over student safety in school transportation.
In the wake of the accident, emergency services evaluated 53 people for injuries. Four individuals were airlifted to the hospital with critical injuries, while six others were transported by ambulance with serious conditions. An ambulance bus was also deployed to take 10 people with minor injuries for further medical attention.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott took to social media to express his condolences and call for prayers for the victims and their families. He assured the community of the state’s full support during this difficult time and commended the swift response of first responders and law enforcement officers at the scene.
The community around Tom Green Elementary School came together as anxious family members awaited news of their loved ones. Jonathan and Cynthia Rivera shared their relief upon learning their 5-year-old niece was safe, despite the ordeal being her first school field trip since transferring from Austin. Similarly, Cynthia Yescas was grateful her 4-year-old nephew survived, though he sustained minor injuries.
Residents near the crash site, like Alejandro Anaya, described the horrific scene and their efforts to comfort the frightened children. The highway’s speed limit of 65 mph, coupled with its two-lane design, was criticized for its safety risks, especially in light of the day’s events.
As the community begins to heal from this tragedy, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of road safety and the need for stringent measures to protect our youngest and most vulnerable commuters.