A school bus carrying more than 40 children and one adult overturned in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, injuring 12 people, according to officials. The crash occurred after school but before any drop-offs, on the first day of the new school year.
The bus, transporting students from Leander Independent School District in northwest Austin, rolled over on a curved stretch of road in Travis County. Authorities said one person sustained life-threatening injuries, two were critically hurt, and the rest suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Those with minor injuries were taken to a reunification center for medical evaluation and to meet their families.
Superintendent Bruce Gearing said the driver was a veteran and the bus primarily served an elementary school. It remains unclear how many students were wearing seatbelts at the time.
The Texas Department of Public Safety said the 2024 model bus was equipped with seatbelts. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
“This part of our Leander ISD family has been through so much already this summer with the floods, and this tragedy this afternoon is really breaking our hearts,” Gearing said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with each student and their family.”
