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.
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.
More Safety

New York 5-Year-Old Killed by School Bus, Investigation Ongoing
A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.
Read More →
Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate
As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.
Read More →
8 Ways To Simplify and Streamline School Bus Fleet Operations
What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.
Read More →
Survey: Most Parents Want Automated Enforcement on School Buses
A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.
Read More →
State Grant Program Advances School Bus Safety Upgrades Across Ohio
$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.
Read More →
Waymo Scrutiny Intensifies as NTSB Launches Investigation
After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.
Read More →
Transportant Debuts First Full-Color Stop Arm Camera for School Buses
Transportant introduced a next-generation stop arm camera designed to improve image quality and reliability for documenting illegal school bus passings.
Read More →3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Read More →
New Mexico District Receives $2.7M Grant to Expand Walking School Bus Programs
See how a federal grant will help Albuquerque Public Schools expand supervised walking routes and improve student safety.
Read More →
Florida Inventor Creates Retractable 10-Foot Stop-Arm
A newly developed school bus safety device introduces a retractable barrier designed to deter illegal passing during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
