You confront a stark fact: a school bus driver’s unsafe left turn led to a head-on crash that killed a motorist and injured students, and the driver now faces scrutiny from law enforcement and the community.
This piece explains what happened, who was affected, and why the incident has sparked urgent questions about safety and accountability.
As you follow the account of the crash, you will learn the sequence of events, the immediate effects on students and staff, and how local authorities are handling the investigation.
You will also see how families and the wider community are reacting and what this could mean for school transportation policies moving forward.
Deadly Head-On Crash: What Happened
A tractor-trailer crossed into oncoming lanes and struck a school bus carrying pre-K students, killing two people and injuring several others. The key facts: a sudden lane departure, no seat belts on the bus, and multiple victims airlifted from the scene.
Timeline of the Incident
Shortly before midday on a rural stretch, the cement truck veered across the double-yellow line and into the path of the oncoming school bus. The collision rolled the bus and crumpled its roof, injuring passengers and bystanders.
Emergency crews arrived within minutes. Four people were airlifted in critical condition and six more were transported by ambulance with serious injuries. Local law enforcement secured the scene while investigators collected dash-cam footage from the bus and spoke with surviving passengers and adult chaperones.
Authorities later arrested the truck driver at a residence in Bastrop County. Officials identified one child fatality, a 5-year-old named Ulises Rodriguez Montoya, and a 33-year-old motorist, Ryan Wallace, who also died in the crash. Hospital updates later confirmed most students were released after treatment.
Details of the Unsafe Left Turn
Video from the bus dashboard shows the truck suddenly crossing the center line without apparent braking. The movement resembles an unsafe left turn or an abrupt lane drift; investigators described it as a sudden veer into oncoming traffic.
Witnesses and footage suggested the bus driver swerved to avoid a head-on impact, but the bus still sustained catastrophic roof damage when struck. Officials noted the bus did not have seat belts, a factor that likely increased occupant injuries during the rollover.
The truck driver, identified in reports as Jerry Hernandez, faced criminally negligent homicide charges tied to the maneuver. Prosecutors cited negligence linked to the lane violation, and they pursued charges that carry jail time and fines under state law.
Individuals Involved in the Crash
The bus carried more than 40 pre-K students and 11 adults, including drivers and chaperones. Medical teams reported multiple critical and serious injuries among both children and adults; most students were later released from the hospital.
The truck driver, arrested without incident, is charged in connection with the deaths and injuries. The two confirmed fatalities were a 5-year-old passenger, Ulises Rodriguez Montoya, and a 33-year-old driver of another vehicle, Ryan Wallace.
School and local officials provided family notifications and counseling. Community members and the Hays Consolidated Independent School District responded to the incident and shared the dashboard video publicly during the investigation.
Impact on Students and Local Community
The crash left immediate medical needs, disrupted school routines, and prompted calls for accountability and expanded support for families and staff. Officials and local providers moved quickly to stabilize injured students and coordinate counseling and transportation changes.
Response from Manhattan School District
Manhattan School District officials notified families within hours and activated emergency protocols for student accounting and reunification. District administrators worked with bus contractors to suspend the involved driver and to audit route assignments across the fleet.
The district arranged alternate transportation for affected routes and shifted several schools to remote check-ins the day after the crash to give counselors time to meet with students. School leaders also scheduled classroom visits and group meetings so teachers could report trauma-related concerns to counselors.
District communications included a hotline for parents and daily updates emailed to families. Superintendent statements stressed cooperation with investigators and a review of hiring, training, and vendor oversight procedures.
Medical Evaluation and Hospitalization
Injured students were triaged at the scene and transported to Silver Cross Hospital and other nearby trauma centers depending on injury severity. Emergency staff prioritized children with head and chest injuries while performing standard pediatric trauma evaluations and imaging.
Silver Cross Hospital confirmed it received multiple students and reported ongoing observation for concussion symptoms and internal injuries. Parents received updates from emergency departments and were allowed to visit once the stabilization period ended.
Non-urgent injuries were treated and released the same day; several students required overnight observation. School nurses and district liaisons compiled medical release forms to coordinate follow-up care and school re-entry accommodations.
Ongoing Investigations and Community Support
Local law enforcement and the county prosecutor opened a collision investigation to determine fault and whether criminal charges or traffic citations were warranted. The school district separately launched an audit of the bus vendor’s training, licensing checks, and route supervision practices.
Community organizations, PTAs, and faith groups organized donation drives and a centralized support page to help affected families with meals, transport, and childcare. The district set up counseling centers at two elementary schools for walk-in support and scheduled long-term counseling for students showing signs of post-traumatic stress.
City council members called for a public hearing on contractor oversight and for expedited reporting from the district’s independent safety review.
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