School bus carrying 42 students rolls over in northwest Austin, injures dozens

The first day of school took a sudden turn in northwest Austin, Texas, on Wednesday, Aug. 13, when a bus carrying 42 elementary students rolled onto its side, injuring 16, officials said. The yellow bus, operated by the Leander Independent School District, was leaving a school when it veered into an embankment. 

Bus overturns in northwest Austin

Austin-Travis County EMS initially transported 10 people — nine children and the bus driver — to the hospital. The Texas Department of Public Safety later said additional students were evaluated and needed medical care. In a post on X, ATCEMS reported that two children had serious injuries, but none were life-threatening. The other 14 who were hospitalized suffered minor injuries.

Local station KXAN reported that the children were coming from Bagdad Elementary School. ATCEMS responded to the crash shortly after 3:15 p.m.

Bus details and investigation

In a press conference, the Texas Department of Public Safety said a preliminary investigation found the bus was traveling on a slight curve when it left the road and rolled onto its side. Although it was raining at the time, investigators have not determined if the weather was a factor.

Texas officials said the bus was equipped with state-regulated seat belts, but it was not immediately known whether all students were wearing them during the crash.

Students who were not injured were taken to a nearby church for reunification with families and further evaluation.

Support for students and families

In a message to families, Leander ISD said staff and first responders stayed with the injured students and their relatives at the scene. The district said extra counselors and social workers would be at Bagdad Elementary on Thursday, Aug. 14, to provide emotional support. Officials said they will continue assisting the affected children, their friends, and their families as the community recovers.

“Our hearts are with all those impacted by this tragedy. We are working closely with Counseling Services to ensure students, staff and families across the district have access to support in the days ahead,” Leander ISD Superintendent Bruce Gearing said.

Similar incident northeast of Houston

A similar incident occurred in Cleveland, Texas, about 45 miles northeast of Houston. Just days after a previous crash, another Cleveland ISD bus flipped over on the morning of Wednesday, Aug. 13, while carrying 58 students. Every student on the bus was transported to nearby hospitals for medical evaluation, though the district didn’t provide details about the severity of injuries or the students’ grade levels.

Elementary students were among those involved, and local reports showed some being evacuated on stretchers. Earlier in the week, a high school bus from the same district overturned on the same road, sending 36 students to hospitals. No life-threatening injuries were reported in that crash.

Cleveland ISD said it is investigating both accidents to determine if there are any common factors, but officials have not confirmed a direct connection between the two incidents.