School Bus Crash in Texas: Multiple Children Injured on First Day!
A school bus carrying 42 children and one adult overturned in Leander, Texas, on Wednesday, resulting in multiple injuries. The incident occurred on the first day back to school for students in the Leander Independent School District (ISD).
According to authorities, the bus was traveling south on Nameless Road around 3:15 p.m. when it veered off the road for an unknown reason and rolled onto its side. Emergency services responded to the scene, where they found 43 patients requiring attention.
Injuries and Response
Twelve individuals, including the bus driver, were transported to local hospitals. Officials reported that one person sustained life-threatening injuries, and two others suffered potentially life-threatening injuries. Some patients were airlifted by StarFlight helicopters due to the remote location of the crash site. Assistant Chief Kevin Parker of Austin-Travis County EMS clarified that the use of helicopters was primarily due to the distance to medical facilities, and not necessarily indicative of the severity of all patients' conditions.
The remaining students were taken to a reunification center where they could be evaluated and reunited with their families. Leander ISD Superintendent Bruce Gearing expressed his heartbreak over the tragedy, especially considering the recent devastating floods in the area.
Investigation Underway
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is currently investigating the cause of the crash. Sgt. Billy Ray stated that the preliminary investigation is ongoing. The bus, a 2024 model equipped with seatbelts, primarily transported students from Bagdad Elementary School. Fortunately, no students had been dropped off before the accident occurred.
Community Support
The Leander ISD community is rallying to support the injured students and their families. Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.