Two Hospitalized in Harlingen School Bus Accident

Two people were hospitalized following a collision involving a school bus in Harlingen. Learn about the details of the crash and facts about bus crashes in Texas from your McAllen car accident attorneys.

The School Bus Accident

Authorities with the Harlingen Police Department report that a school bus was involved in an accident on Wednesday, September 6. The accident occurred at the intersection of Wilson Road and US-77 Frontage Road.

According to the HPD, the school bus struck a truck near the intersection. The cause of the collision has not been determined.

Six high school students were riding on the bus at the time of the crash. One of the students sustained minor injuries in the collision. Two people from the truck were hospitalized, though the extent of their injuries has not been reported.

An investigation into this incident remains ongoing.

Bus Accidents in Texas: What You Need to Know

As a parent of a Texas student, you might be wondering if school bus accidents should be a bigger concern in your life. Thankfully, these types of accidents are rare, and they also tend to be far less dangerous than other crashes. You might not expect school bus crashes to be less dangerous than other crashes because of the lack of safety belts, but the data doesn’t lie.

Last year, there were a total of 1,431 car accidents involving school buses. Of those accidents, only one involved a fatality. That means that less than one-tenth of one percent of all school bus accidents lead to a death. In comparison, more than half of one percent of all accidents involve a fatality. In fact, the average Texas car accident is more than ten times more dangerous than the average school bus accident.

Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for other types of bus accidents. Non-school buses are just about as dangerous as any other kind of crash.

A likely part of the reason why school bus accidents are less dangerous is that school bus drivers may drive more cautiously compared to other drivers. There are guidelines in place to regulate drivers’ behavior near school buses. 

You can do your part to keep kids safe on the school bus by following these rules:

• Watch for yellow flashing lights: slow down and prepare to stop
• Watch for red flashing lights: stop and wait for the bus to begin moving again
• Always stop for stopped buses on two-lane roads
• Maintain a following distance of at least 10 feet
• Be prepared to stop at railroad crossings
• Don’t drive in bus blind spots
• Don’t pass stopped buses
• Don’t drive distracted

If you’ve been involved in a bus accident in Texas, McAllen car accident attorneys can help you determine the right path forward.

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Source: ValleyCentral