2 killed in Central Texas bus crash involving dozens of pre-k students

The superintendent of Hays CISD, Eric Wright, issued a statement about the bus crash impacting dozens of pre-K students from Tom Green Elementary School, confirming the death of one student and a man in a separate vehicle.

“There are no words that can express my sorrow for the student’s family, the Tom Green Elementary School family, and our greater Hays CISD community,” Wright said in the statement emailed to MySA. “I am also saddened to learn of the death of a person who was driving a car that was on the road behind our bus.”

Wright said there were 51 people injured in the accident, although a breakdown of students and adults was not given. The condition of the driver of the concrete truck that veered into the bus’ lane, while traveling in the opposite direction on Hwy. 21, was not detailed and Wright notes investigators were still at the scene a little before 8 p.m.

“This is a horrible and tragic day for our school district. In total, in addition to the two who were killed, 51 others were injured,” he said. “We continue to pray for everyone affected, those still in the hospital, and their loved ones.”

Wright commended the efforts of the injured bus driver and other adults on the bus who prioritized the treatment of the children despite their own injuries, but he went on to note the severe impact of the incident upon the community.

“I wish I could end this correspondence by saying that everything will be alright. For most of us, it eventually will. But, there are grieving families tonight who will never know life again as it was before,” the superintendent wrote. “Let us continue to focus on them in our hearts and in our prayers.”

A bus carrying 55 people, including 44 pre-K age children with Hays CISD, was traveling westbound on Hwy. 21 when a concrete truck travelling in the opposite direction crashed with the school vehicle and caused a rollover, according to information provided by law enforcement officials at the scene in a press conference.

One of the children on the bus, a boy, was killed in the crash and a man travelling behind the bus in a separate vehicle was also killed during the incident, according to Kevin Parker, a division chief for Austin-Travis County EMS. There were 53 patients evaluated by EMS.

It is still being investigated to determine whether the man killed in the third vehicle, a black Dodge Charger, struck the bus or concrete truck. A state crash team is on the scene for the investigation.

Four individuals were transported to hospitals by helicopter in critical condition and six people with “potentially serious injuries” were transported by ambulances to hospitals, Parker explained. The remainder of people had minor injuries and were either transported by ambulance or moved to Hays CISD’s reunification center.

Triage was performed on-site and roughly 10 patients were taken to a children’s hospital with minor injuries aboard an ambulance bus operated by Austin-Travis County EMS.

The truck had veered into the oncoming lane the bus was travelling in and there is no indication of impaired driving on the part of its driver, according to an official. The crash happened at roughly 1:59 p.m.

The incident echoes a 2018 incident that occurred roughly 30 miles to the west in which an 18-wheeler struck a Bastrop ISD bus on Hwy. 71, according to an Austin American-Statesman article from the time. Students had minor injuries in that incident and there were no deaths.

Original story:

More than 40 pre-k students were involved in a deadly bus crash in Bastrop County on Friday, March 22. The crash left at least two people dead, including a child, officials say. Austin Travis County-EMS are asking travelers to avoid Bastrop County via Caldwell Road near 2751 W SH 21 as officials work to respond to the scene. 

The ATCEMS post said to expect to road closures due to a large amount of first responders working the scene. Hays County school district confirmed in a statement that a bus with 55 people inside, rolled over in western Bastrop County off Texas 21., concrete truck and a third vehicle crashed in the area. 

In a news release from Hays Consolidated Independent School District, the students were returning from a field trip to the Bastrop Zoo. 44 students and 22 adults were on the bus. 

The release goes on to say that parents of students on the bus have been notified directly from the campus. The district is in the process of conducting reunification. 

A Texas Department of Public Safety spokesperson told KXAN that a Hays Consolidated Independent School District bus was involved in the crash near SH 21 and Caldwell Road. Around 2:17 p.m., ATCEMS and Bastrop County first responders responded to the incident on Friday. 

Before 3:30 p.m., medics said two Travis County STARflight helicopters arrived to transport four patients. Two patients were taken to St. David’s South Austin Medical Center by ATCEMS. Other patients were transported by other agencies, medics told KXAN.

The Caldwell County Sheriff’s Office said on social media SH 21 is shut down due to a crash with “multiple” deaths. Drivers should expect road closures in the area as first responders work at the scene.

This is a developing story and more details will be released soon.