13 people were killed Wednesday afternoon when a pickup truck collided into a small passenger bus from the First Baptist Church of New Braunfels.
The crash occurred in the town of Uvalde on US Highway 83 North. Authorities believe that the large pickup, driven by Jack Dillon Young of Leakey, Texas, had crossed over into the oncoming lane of traffic and ran head-on into the bus.
The bus was carrying 14 passengers back from a three-day retreat at Alto Frio Baptist Encampment. 13 of the 14 passengers died in the wreck. The survivor was Rose Mary Harris, 64, from New Braunfels. She was airlifted to San Antonio Military Medical Center and listed in critical condition.
Young, the truck driver, was listed as being in stable condition after being airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio.
The 13 deceased passengers were identified as:
- Murray William Barrett, 67
- Howard Bryan Allen, 81
- Rhonda Barlow Allen, 61
- Harold Boyd Barber, 87
- Margaret Robinson Barber, 82
- Cristie Clare Moore, 68
- Donna Elizabeth Hawkins, 69
- Avis Scholl Banks, 83
- Mildred Goodlett Rosamond, 87
- Addie Maurine Schmeltkopf, 84
- Sue Wynn Tysdal, 76
- Martha Holcomb Walker, 84
- Dorothy Fern Vulliet, 84
Authorities are not sure what exactly caused Young to cross into the wrong lane on the highway. They have not stated whether charges will be pressed against him.
Reports from local news stated that the accident took place at a major curve on the highway. An area resident who witnessed the accident said that they had called police to report reckless driving, but the wreck happened before any response was issued.
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