DPS: Booze and Drugs May Have Contributed to Iraan Cheerleader Bus Tragedy

A contributing factor in the Iraan-Sheffield ISD cheerleader bus crash near Big Spring on Dec. 2 was a third vehicle that may have been operated by a driver high on drugs or drunk, a DPS report just released to Odessa’s CBS7 said.

According to the fresh DPS release, presented as another preliminary crash report, a third vehicle identified as a Buick sedan operated by a 59-year-old Midland woman was eastbound on I-20 when she made an unsafe lane change into the path of the 18-wheeler and collided. DPS reported that both the 18-wheeler and the Buick traversed the center median and into the incoming westbound lanes.

The 18-wheeler crashed into the Iraan-Sheffied ISD Chevrolet custom chassis van loaded with Iraan High’s teenaged cheerleaders and two adult sponsors.

DPS reported that the woman’s Buick also crashed into an additional vehicle travelling westbound. That vehicle was in front of the cheerleader van.

DPS reported their investigators obtained a blood sample from the woman driving a Buick for reasonable suspicion.

CBS7 reported that as of Thursday evening the results of the blood test have not been returned to DPS, though DPS did state in the report that drugs and alcohol might have contributed to the crash.

Liz Pope, 52, an Iraan-Sheffield ISD teacher and sponsor of the high school cheerleading squad, died in that crash. Her sister, Christina Garlock, 48, was driving the Iraan van and was critically injured. She remains hospitalized in Lubbock with leg injuries, reported the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

The Star-Telegram also reported that Iraan lost the Class 2A Division II championship football game to Bremond Thursday evening 49-28. Iraan’s varsity played with “true grit” the paper reported.