Driver Reaching For Toy Collides with Transit Bus, 9 People Injured

A little after 1 p.m., and not too long after a rollover crash on Houston Harte, San Angelo Police, along with three medics, were dispatched to the 800 block of Paint Rock Road for another major motor vehicle crash.

A transit bus carrying multiple passengers was involved, and multiple injuries are being reported.

At this time, drivers want to avoid the area.

This is a breaking story. We will provide an update once available.

Update 1:49 p.m.

Officer Gesch, with SAPD, said the transit bus was westbound while a female driver of a black SUV traveled eastbound.

“[The driver of the SUV] just drifted into oncoming traffic, and they collided,” said Officer Gesch.

Originally, three ambulances were called to the scene, and, because of the number of injuries, there was a call for a fourth. Officer Gesch said he could not provide the exact number of injuries, or the amount of people on the transit bus at this time. That’s still being investigated.

“There’s several—over five,” said Gesch. He added that there were two people in the SUV.

Additionally, a 5-year-old girl, who complained of chest pains after the crash, was transported to an area hospital by private vehicle.

Charges are still pending, added Officer Gesch.

Update 5:45 p.m.

In an update this evening, Officer Tracy Gonzalez, public information officer for SAPD, said nine people were sent to local hospitals this afternoon after a black SUV collided with a transit bus in the 800 block of Paint Rock Road.

"The collision occurred just before 1:00 p.m. between a black 2015 Toyota Highlander and a Concho Valley Transit District bus that was transporting six passengers," said Gonzalez.

She stated that a 46-year-old San Angelo woman driving the SUV and her 5-year-old granddaughter both sustained non-incapacitating injuries. The 55-year-old male bus driver and his passengers all sustained non-incapacitating injuries as well, and the passengers ranged in age from 39 to 63.

"The traffic investigation showed the SUV was traveling east on Paint Rock Road when the driver drifted left into oncoming traffic and crashed head-on into the bus," Gonzalez explained. "The driver of the SUV told police that she reached down to grab a toy for her grandchild just before the collision. 

The woman was issued a citation for Driving Left of Center.