Two students were killed and three others were injured after a Houston Independent School District (HISD) school bus plummeted over the edge of an overpass on the 610 South Loop freeway.
According to officials, the school bus was carrying four students and was heading toward Furr High School and REACH Charter School, which share a campus.
The bus was traveling east on 610 South Loop when a Buick LeSabre traveling in a nearby lane, swerved into the buss lane and struck the front left corner of the bus.
The bus driver overcorrected after being hit and veered to the right, into and then over the guard rail of an overpass. Witness reported seeing the bus nose-dive over the edge of the overpass and then flip before coming to rest on its side on Telephone Road. The accident occurred around 7 a.m., Tuesday, Sept. 15.
A 17-year-old student at REACH Charter School was pronounced dead at the scene and a 14-year-old Furr High School student died shortly thereafter at Memorial Hermann Hospital. The two other students injured attend REACH and were taken along with the bus driver to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
According to developing reports, the driver of the LeSabre was an HISD teacher. She told officials that she believed another car was drifting into her lane, which caused her to swerve into the bus lane. She was taken in for questioning, but no charges have been filed.
According to the school district, the driver of the bus has a clean record from her three years of driving for the district. She underwent 10 to 12 hours of training before the school year started.
The bus was purchased in 2008, was equipped with seatbelts and security cameras, and underwent a safety inspection in July.
The Texan personal injury attorneys at Anderson, Cummings & Drawhorn have seen first-hand the devastation that school bus accidents can bring to families. That is why we are dedicated to fighting for the rights of the injured and helping Texas families get the compensation they need to get back on their feet.
Call (817) 920-9000 to schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.