Texas Bus Fatal Crash: Driver Admitted Drug use before wreck

In a tragic incident that has gripped the state of Texas, a school bus carrying more than 40 pre-K students from Tom Green Elementary School was involved in a fatal crash with a concrete truck in Bastrop County. The collision, which occurred last Friday on State Highway 21 as the bus was returning from a field trip to the zoo, resulted in the deaths of 5-year-old Ulises Rodriguez Montoya and 33-year-old Ryan Wallace, a Ph.D. student at the University of Texas at Austin. Dozens of students and teachers were also injured in the crash.

The driver of the concrete truck, identified as 42-year-old Jerry Hernandez, was arrested on Friday and charged with criminally negligent homicide. According to police reports, Hernandez admitted to consuming cocaine on the morning of the crash and only getting three hours of sleep the night before. Additionally, Hernandez reportedly told a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper that he had smoked marijuana the night prior to the accident. Despite these admissions, Hernandez refused to provide a voluntary blood specimen for analysis.

The dashcam video released by the Hays Consolidated Independent School District shows the concrete truck veering into the oncoming lane, directly into the path of the school bus. The bus driver attempted to avoid the collision by moving onto the shoulder of the road, but the truck struck the bus, causing it to roll over and land on its side. The entire crash unfolded in less than 10 seconds, leaving a scene of chaos and devastation.

In the aftermath of the crash, the community has rallied together to support the victims and their families. Fundraisers have been set up to assist with medical expenses and other needs. The Hays school district has also announced plans to have counselors available at Tom Green Elementary School to provide support for students and staff affected by the tragedy.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing, with authorities examining crash data from the engines of both the cement pump truck and the school bus to piece together the events leading up to the collision. The affidavit for Hernandez's arrest provides a chilling account of the driver's state before the crash, raising questions about the oversight of commercial vehicle operators and the need for stricter regulations to prevent such tragedies in the future.

This incident has once again highlighted the dangers of impaired driving and the devastating impact it can have on communities. As the investigation continues, many are calling for justice for the victims and their families, as well as measures to ensure the safety of school children on the road.

The arrest of Jerry Hernandez marks a significant development in the case, but for many, it is only the beginning of a long journey towards healing and recovery. The loss of a young student and a promising scholar has left a void in the hearts of those who knew them, and the community is left to grapple with the consequences of a momentary lapse that led to irrevocable loss.

As the legal proceedings against Hernandez unfold, the focus remains on supporting the survivors and remembering the lives of Ulises Rodriguez Montoya and Ryan Wallace. Their memories serve as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of vigilance on the road to prevent future tragedies.