1 Student Dies, Others Injured in Texas School Bus Crash
The school bus, which is transporting 42 students, rolls into a ditch and catches on fire, officials say. One student dies and three students are taken to the hospital with minor injuries.
MESQUITE, Texas — A school bus here was involved in a crash and caught on fire on Wednesday, killing one student and injuring three others.
Officials told The Dallas Morning News that as the Mesquite Independent School District bus was transporting 42 students from Terry Middle School on Wednesday afternoon, it rolled into a ditch and caught fire. Police confirmed to the newspaper and NBC 5 that the bus struck a power line. Passengers on board apparently used the back door and the rooftop hatch, both of which were open, to escape, according to NBC 5. One student was pronounced dead at the scene, The Dallas Morning News reports.
The school district posted on its Facebook page on Wednesday that three students were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, but that “it is with a very heavy heart that we must confirm that today, we lost one student.” The district has not identified the student out of respect for her family’s privacy.
The school bus driver was hospitalized in good condition, the school district told The Dallas Morning News. Elizabeth Fernandez, a spokeswoman for Mesquite Independent School District, told the newspaper that the bus driver has had no history of crashes since he was hired in 2011.
The district also noted on Facebook that community members, school district employees, and first responders “acted quickly and risked their own lives” to help the students in the crash.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, according to NBC 5.
More Safety

When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →
New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%
A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.
Read More →
What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?
The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.
Read More →

