2017 — March 29, Pickup truck hits church bus head-on, Hwy 83 near Concan, TX — 13

— 13  AP. “Driver in Deadly Texas Church Bus Crash was Texting, Witness Says.” 4-2-2017.

 

Narrative Information

 

March 29: “Concan, Texas — Twelve people were killed ant three injured after a crash involving a church vehicle in central Texas, authorities have confirmed. According to Texas Department of Public Safety, the church bus was traveling south on Highway 83 near Concan, Texas, when it was involved in a head-on collision with a Dodge pickup truck. The bus was carrying 14 passengers, and only the driver was aboard the pickup truck. The crash happened about 12:20 p.p. Wednesday outside Garner State Park, about 75 miles west of San Antonio.

 

“Church officials tell ABC News the van was returning to New Braunfels, Texas, from a Baptist encampment near Lakey, Texas, where members were attending a Bible study….” (ABC7, Los Angeles/Associated Press. “12 Killed in Texas Church Bus Crash.” March 29, 2017.)

 

April 2, Associated Press: “New Braunfels, Texas — The driver of a pickup truck that collided with a church minibus in rural Texas, killing 13 people, apologized after the crash and acknowledged he had been texting while driving, a witness said Friday. Jody Kuchler told The Associated Press he was driving behind the truck and had seen it moving erratically prior to the Wednesday collision on a two-lane road about 75 miles west of San Antonio, near the town of Concan. Kuchler said the truck had crossed the center line several times while he followed it. Kuchler said he called the sheriff’s offices for both Uvalde and Real counties while he followed the truck and told them “they needed to get him off the road before he hit somebody.” Kuchler said he witnessed the crash and afterward, he checked on both the bus and the truck and was able to speak with the driver, who has been identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety as 20-year-old Jack Dillon Young, of Leakey, Texas. “He said, ‘I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I was texting.’ I said, “Son, do you know what you just did? He said, ‘I’m sorry I’m sorry,'” Kuchler quoted the pickup driver as saying….

 

“Twelve people died at the scene, authorities said. Another bus passenger died at a San Antonio hospital.

 

“The First Baptist Church of New Braunfels, Texas, said its members were returning from a three-day retreat at the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment in Leakey, about 9 miles from the crash site.

 

“The wreck occurred along a curve in the road where the speed limit is 65 mph, according to DPS officials.” (AP. “Driver in Deadly Texas Church Bus Crash was Texting….” 4-2-2017.)

 

Victims

 

Howard B. Allen, 81               Rhonda Allen, 61                    Avis S. Banks, 83

Murray Barrett, 67                  Harold B. Barber, 87              Margaret R. Barber, 82

Donna Hawkins, 69                Christie Moore, 68                  Mildred G. Rosamond, 87

Addie M. Schmeltekoph, 84   Sue Tysdal, 76                        Dorothy F. Vulliet, 84

Martha Walker, 84.

 

(Beltran, Jacob. “New Braunfels faithful remember victims killed in crash.” MySA, 4-2-2017.)

 

Sources

 

ABC7 KABT-TV, Los Angeles/Associated Press. “12 Killed in Texas Church Bus Crash.” March 29, 2017. Accessed 4-3-2017 at: http://abc7.com/news/12-killed-in-texas-church-bus-crash/1824978/

 

Associated Press. “Driver in Deadly Texas Church Bus Crash was Texting, Witness Says.” 4-2-2017. Accessed 4-3-2017 at: http://abc7.com/news/driver-in-deadly-texas-church-bus-crash-was-texting-witness-says/1830969/

 

Beltran, Jacob. “New Braunfels faithful remember victims killed in crash.” MySA, 4-2-2017. Accessed 4-3-2017 at: http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/New-Braunfels-faithful-remember-victims-killed-in-11045248.php