2 dead in rollover crash involving Hays CISD bus, concrete truck in Bastrop County; more than 50 people involved

BASTROP COUNTY, Texas (Talk1370.com) -- Two people are dead after a crash Friday afternoon involving a Hays CISD school bus and a concrete truck in Bastrop County, officials said.

According to Hays CISD, the bus was carrying 44 Pre-K students and 11 adults from Tom Green Elementary. The bus was returning from a field trip to a zoo in Bastrop County, officials said.

The crash happened around 2 p.m. Friday, on State Highway 21 near Caldwell Road, according to Austin-Travis County EMS officials.

Texas Department of Public Safety officials said one of the children on the bus died, along with a male victim from a vehicle traveling behind the bus.

Several children were thrown from the bus, officials said. The concrete truck appeared to have veered into the lane of the school bus; it's unclear what might have caused the driver to swerve into opposing traffic, according to early details from the investigation.

A total of 53 people were evaluated for injuries. Four were transported via Travis County's STAR Flight helicopters with critical injuries; another six patients were transported via ground ambulance. ATCEMS' ambulance bus was also used to transport several patients who suffered minor injuries.

Road closures were expected to continue in the area while crews worked to clear the scene.