Texas school bus returning from field trip crashes, killing man and boy

Pre-K students, teachers and chaperones were returning from a zoo outing

A man and boy were killed Friday following a Texas school bus carrying pre-K students collided with a concrete truck as the bus was returning from a field trip to a zoo, officials said. 

A Hays Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) bus rolled over around 2:15 p.m. near Texas State Highway 21 and Caldwell Road in Bastrop County, FOX Austin reported. 

The cement truck veered onto the school bus' lane and struck it head-on, causing the bus to roll over, authorities said. The driver of a Dodge Charger who was behind the bus crashed into it and died, authorities said at a news conference. 

The "precious young boy" who was killed was a pre-K student at Tom Green Elementary, district Superintendent Eric Wright said. 

Authorities at the scene of a Texas school bus crash on Friday that occurred while returning from a field trip to a local zoo, officials said. (KTBC)

"There are no words that can express my sorrow for the student’s family, the Tom Green Elementary School family, and our greater Hays CISD community," Wright said in a statement. 

The bus was carrying Tom Green Elementary pre-K students as they were returning from a field trip to the Bastrop Zoo. There were 44 students and 11 adults on board, the school district said.

In addition to the man and boy killed, 53 people were injured. Despite being injured herself, the driver of the bus insisted that medical personnel tend to the children first, as well as the other adults on board, Wright said. 

The surviving students were reunited with their loved ones by 6:45 p.m., Wright said. 

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Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gave his condolences and praised first responders. 

"Cecilia and I are saddened to hear about this tragic incident, and we ask all Texans to join us in prayer for Tom Green Elementary students and families during this difficult time," he said in a statement. "I've spoken with Hyas CISD Superintendent Dr. Eric Wright and offered the state's full support as they help their community through this tragedy."

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