Texas Church Bus Accident Kills 13
Authorities began an investigation into a head-on collision between a pickup truck and small church bus carrying senior citizens. At least 13 people were killed including the bus driver and two others were injured in the tragedy that happened Wednesday, March 29, in southwest Texas.
The passengers, all choir members of First Baptist Church in New Braunfels, were returning home from a three-day retreat. Their bus was traveling south on a two-lane section of Highway 83 near Garner State Park in northern Uvalde County when it smashed into a northbound white pickup at 12:23 p.m. CDT.
The accident happened on a curve where the speed limit is 65 miles per hour (mph).
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"For reasons unknown, the truck veered into the southbound lane and struck the bus head-on," Sgt. Orlando Moreno described what happened. Before the accident, 911 received three calls about an "erratic driver" on a pickup truck.
The driver of the Dodge Dually pickup, Jack Dillon Young, 20, survived the accident along with Rose Mary Harris, 64, of New Braunfels, one of the 13 passengers of the 2004 Turtle Top shuttle bus. Both lie in critical condition. The accident site is situated about 120 miles from the church where the bus was headed.
The passengers were grandparents aged 61 to 87 who came from Alto Frio Baptist Camp and Conference Center which San Antonio Express News described as a popular place for retreats, bible study and other spiritual activities. It is located in Leakey, Texas, about 40 miles north of Uvalde.
Church member Marcia Dean said the victims "had a fabulous time" at the retreat. "They sang and laughed and praised the Lord," she added. Many of the families and church members are taking consolation in the thought that the fatalities spent their final days praying and having fun with God.
The tight-knit congregation of less than 500 members gathered at the church that night to condole with the families. Local restaurants donated food while pastors from other churches extended their moral support. Three dozen members of a Lutheran church across the street also joined the First Baptist family in mourning.
