A charter bus accident led to 8 deaths and at least 44 injuries 46 miles north of Laredo, Texas, news sources report. According to a trooper for the Texas Department of Public Safety, “The driver of the bus lost control and rolled over.”
Seven people died at the scene of the accident, and another died later at a hospital in Laredo. The bus driver was among the survivors but the exact cause of the accident is unknown. Although it was raining when the accident occurred, officials did not say if weather conditions contributed.
A team of investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board was sent to the scene of the accident Saturday night and is expected to begin investigating the wreck Sunday.
“Our troopers are going to look into what happened,” one official said, “but it’s going to take us some time.”
According to Ricardo Rangel, a Webb County Volunteer Fire Department Chief, the charter bus was owned by OGA Charters and carrying passengers to a casino located roughly 125 miles outside of Laredo. The bus company has not commented on the accident.
Victims Treated At Laredo and Carrizo Springs Hospitals
Victims were treated at two Laredo hospitals – 23 at Doctors Hospital and 15 at Laredo Medical Center. Seven additional victims were transported to a medical facility in Carrizo Springs.
A spokesperson for Laredo Medical Center told reporters the bus passengers were in stable condition, but no other information was available.
Gov. Greg Abbott issued a written statement asking the state to “keep the families of loved ones lost today…in its thoughts and prayers…”
