13 Dead After Pickup Truck Veers Into Church Van Utter of Seniors in Texas
by Daniella Silva and Alexandra Bacallao
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Thirteen people were dead and two others were injured after a pickup truck veered into a church van carrying senior citizens Wednesday afternoon in Texas, authorities said.
The driver of the pickup truck, identified as 20-year-old Jack Dillon Youthfull, of Leakey, Texas, survived and was airlifted to a San Antonio hospital after the crash, which occurred about 12:23 p.m. (1:23 p.m. ET) near Garner State Park in Concan, Sgt. Conrad Hein of the state Department of Public Safety told NBC News.
The agency told NBC News that the van and the Dodge pickup were the only vehicles involved. All of the dead were from the bus, including its driver, as was the other injured person, authorities said.
The victims, ranging in age from sixty one to 87, were identified by the Texas Department of Public Safety on Thursday.
One survivor was identified as Rose Mary Harris, 64, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas.
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The pickup truck was traveling northbound, and the church bus was traveling southbound, officials said.
Authorities were still investigating what led to the crash on Wednesday night. The National Transportation Safety Board said it would also investigate.
Very first Baptist Fresh Braunfels Church said in a statement on Facebook that a “group of our senior adults” were returning home from a three-day retreat when they were involved in the crash. The church said counselors would be on palm Thursday and asked for prayers for the church family.
Church administrator Norm Hills told NBC News that the church had very little information and was “anxiously awaiting calls from DPS.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott voiced his condolences in a statement on Twitter, telling, “We are saddened by the loss of life and our hearts go out to all those affected.”
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also tweeted a statement, telling his “prayers are with the families impacted by this tragic accident — especially for those who have lost loved ones.”
My prayers are with the families impacted by this tragic accident – especially for those who have lost loved ones. https://t.co/OZKQejz6l6
The Texas Department of Public Safety released the following list of names of the deceased:
Murray William Barrett, 67, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas
Howard Bryan Allen, 81, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas
Rhonda Barlow Allen, 61, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas
Harold Boyd Barber, 87, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas
Margaret Robinson Barber, 82, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas
Cristie Clare Moore, 68, Cibolo, Texas
Donna Elizabeth Hawkins, Sixty-nine, of Schertz, Texas
Avis Scholl Banks, 83, of Austin, Texas
Mildred Goodlett Rosamond, 87, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas
Addie Maurine Schmeltekopf, 84, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas
Sue Wynn Tysdal, 76, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas
Martha Holcomb Walker, 84, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas
Dorothy Fern Vulliet, 84, of Fresh Braunfels, Texas