A white pickup truck was seen driving erratically shortly before slamming into a church bus full of Texas seniors and killed 13 people.
Callers told police in Uvalde, west of San Antonio, that the truck was swerving shortly before crashing into a group of congregation members at First Baptist Church of New Braunfels who were coming home from a three-day retreat.
Only one person aboard the bus, filled with people in their 60s 70s and 80s, survived the crash, which killed 12 passengers along with 67-year-old driver Murrway William Barrett.
The truck driver, 20-year-old Jack Dillon Young, is currently in a local hospital in stable condition.
Revelations that the truck was swerving before the fatal crash come as investigators try to piece together what exactly happened to lead to the sudden loss of life.
Department of Public Safety officials said Thursday that Young is believed to have swerved into the church bus’ lane “for reasons unknown.”
One woman who called police about the swerving car later called back and said that the same truck had crashed.
The fronts of both the truck and the bus were heavily damaged, with glass and debris scattered around the road where the speed limit is 65 mph.
DPS Lt. Johnny Hernandez cautioned Thursday that the investigation is ongoing.
The crash has shaken the First Baptist Church community in New Braunfels, which said that the victims had been “called home to Jesus.”
“We are still grieving and we’re going to grieve for a while, and we will see what tomorrow looks like and then the next day,” senior pastor Brad McLean said Wednesday. “But we know this: We know the strength of the Lord is going to provide our next steps.”
The victims were Howard Allen, 81; Rhonda Allen, 61; Avis Banks, 83; Harold Barber, 87; Margaret Barber, 82; Donna Hawkins, 69; Cristie Moore, 68; Mildred Rosamond, 87; Addie Schmeltekopf, 84; Sue Tysdal, 76; Dorothy Vulliet, 84; and Martha Walker, 84.
“We are saddened by the loss of life and our hearts go out to all those affected,” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and wife Cecilia said in a statement.
“We thank the first responders working on the scene in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, and ask that all Texans join us in offering their thoughts and prayers.”
With News Wire Services
