A truly tragic event occurred early Wednesday morning, when ten people were killed after a bus carrying prisoners skidded off the road and collided with an oncoming train, in Penwell, Texas.
The bus was transporting prisoners from Middleton Prison to the Sanchez Prison in El Paso. The bus was traveling on the highway overpass in West Texas, which was covered in ice.
The bus hit a patch of ice, and according to a country sheriff, slid down an embankment and collided with a passing train.
Sgt. Elizabeth Barney, who works for Texas Department of Public Safety, stated that the bus went off the overpass, landed on the railway, and then was struck by the train.
Eight prisoners and two corrections officers were killed because of the impact with the train. The bus was found on its side with significant damage on its top and undercarriage.
Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson, reported that five people were injured and sent to the hospital, but there is no report about what sort of condition they currently are in. Two employees were able to survive the crash unharmed.
Brad Livingston, Executive Director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, gave this statement in regards of the crash and its victims, “It’s with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of those killed and injured this morning in a tragic accident. Their loved ones will be in our thoughts and prayers.”
State Representative, Tan Parker, who informed the Texas house of the incident, led a moment of silence shortly after the news was shared.
AP Photo/The Odessa American, Mark Sterkel
