Hays school district campus involved in bus crash cancels Monday classes
Classes at Tom Green Elementary School will be canceled Monday to allow students and staff members to grieve after two people, including a child, died Friday in a school bus rollover crash in western Bastrop County, the Hays school district has announced.
Principal Jennifer Hanna said the campus will remain open for those seeking counseling services. Crisis and trauma counselors will be available to help between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Students who need transportation to the campus can call the school to coordinate ride services.
The school board meeting scheduled for Monday also was canceled. Classes will resume Tuesday.
On Friday afternoon, Tom Green Elementary students were returning from a field trip to a Bastrop County zoo when a concrete truck that was headed in the opposite direction veered into their lane and struck the bus.
The bus had no seat belts because it was a 2011 model, Tim Savoy, a Hays school district spokesman, told the American-Statesman. School buses made since 2017 have seat belts, he said.
A statement from the Hays district Saturday addressed the lack of seat belts, saying the district began buying buses with seat belts in 2017, when the state law changed for buses purchased in that year and later.
“The district hopes that the (Texas Department of Public Safety) accident reconstruction investigation will be able to provide more information about whether a seatbelt may have made a difference for the student who died in the accident, but at this time we just don’t know that answer,” the statement said.
“About 40 of Hays CISD’s 200 buses are older than 2017, meaning they too do not have seatbelts.”
The topic of seat belts will be discussed with the district’s Facilities and Bond Oversight Committee to consider accelerating the normal bus replacement cycle “so that all buses have seatbelts as soon as possible,” the statement said.
In an email sent to parents Saturday, Hanna said three staff members and two students were still hospitalized. One of the staff members was expected to be released soon while the other two face an extensive recovery.
Hanna said the two students appeared to be doing well. The district was still trying to reach nine families for an update, she said.
On Friday, EMS evaluated 53 people for injuries. Four were taken to the hospital via helicopter with critical injuries, and six were taken by ambulance with possibly serious injuries.
District officials said personal belongings left on the bus or crash site will be returned as soon as possible.
Officials said the district's response to the accident is ongoing. Additional information will be provided as it is available.
A GoFundMe campaign has been started to help affected families with medical, healing and funeral expenses.
"In the days and weeks ahead, we will face a long road of healing and recovery," Hanna said in a statement sent to parents. “During this time, I encourage each and every one of you to prioritize self-care and seek support if needed. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me if you need assistance or support in any way."
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Hays school district campus involved in bus crash cancels Monday classes