BASTROP COUNTY, Texas — At least two people are dead following a school bus crash in Bastrop County on Friday.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), the crash happened just before 2 p.m. when a Hays CISD school bus carrying Tom Green Elementary School pre-K students collided with a concrete pumper truck on State Highway 21 near Mustang Ridge.
The concrete pumper truck was traveling eastbound on SH 21 and veered into the bus, which was traveling westbound, killing a boy inside. A Dodge Charger then crashed into the back of the bus and its driver also died.
Four people were transported to the hospital by helicopter with critical injuries. Ten more were taken by ground to the hospital with serious but not critical injuries. Officials said they don't know the age or gender of those critically injured.
The district later confirmed that the bus did not have seatbelts.
Hays CISD confirmed that the bus was carrying students who were returning from a field trip to the Bastrop Zoo. Fifty-three people were evaluated, and more than 40 students and 10 adults were on the bus during the crash.
The district also said the parents of students on the bus have been notified by Tom Green Elementary, and the district is in the process of reunification. Hays CISD transportation staff, counselors, safety and security personnel and other administrators have joined first responders at the accident scene and the reunification location.
Hays CISD has established a website for those seeking information about this crash.
An investigation into the deadly crash is expected to take weeks to complete, according to DPS.
A GoFundMe has been set up for families affected by the crash.