Multiple students injured in Leander ISD school bus rollover crash

AUSTIN (KXAN) — 16 people, including 15 children, were taken to the hospital after a Leander Independent School District bus rolled over in the Sandy Creek area of Travis County on Wednesday, the Texas Department of Public Safety said in a press release.

Austin-Travis County EMS said in an update at 6 p.m., 10 people, including nine children, were taken to the hospital. However, DPS said after further evaluation several other students were taken to the hospital.

ATCEMS said two children had serious but not expected to be life-threatening injuries. The others had non-life-threatening injuries.

The bus, which was coming from Bagdad Elementary School, was carrying 42 children and an adult. The bus driver was among those injured and taken to a hospital, ATCEMS said. This was Leander ISD’s first day of school.

The crash happened around 3:16 p.m. in the 22100 block of Nameless Road.

Preliminary investigation indicated the bus was traveling south when it “left the roadway to the right and overturned,” a press release from the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) said. Additionally, DPS said it was raining during the time of the crash, however, it’s unclear if weather was a factor.

Shortly after the school bus crash was reported, Leander ISD sent an email out to its parents.

At 4:05 p.m. the district said, “We want to make you aware that this bus was involved in an accident while transporting students this afternoon on Nameless Road.”

Leander ISD said the Round Mountain Baptist Church located at 14500 Round Mountain Road was set up as a reunification site.

Leander’s buses have seat belts

Leander ISD school buses are equipped with 3-point seatbelts, and students must wear those seat belts under state law, according to its website. DPS confirmed the bus was equipped with seatbelts, but authorities said it is “unknown if all the students were wearing them.”

Drivers with the district are trained and must complete yearly refresher courses on what to do if an emergency happens, according to the LISD website. In the event of an emergency, drivers must assess the students health and contact dispatch as soon as possible. According to the district, students must remain on the bus unless it needs to be evacuated.

The district added that the most important focus in this type of situation is the safety and well-being of students.

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