The Texas Department of Public Safety sent two officers from Lubbock Friday morning to assist in the investigation of a deadly crash involving a prison bus in Comanche County.
DPS said a Texas Department of Criminal Justice bus with inmates and correctional officers on board was involved in a two-vehicle accident. The other vehicle was a pickup truck and DPS said the pickup driver died.
TDCJ said 31 prisoners were on the bus. Originally TDJC said 10 were injured but that number was updated to 21. None of the prisoners’ injuries were life-threatening according to TDCJ. No correction officers were injured.
TDCJ also said the transport bus originated in Abilene, and was destined for Huntsville.
Officials said the bus hit the side of the truck and then rolled over on Highway 36 and Farm to Market road 1702 west of Gustine in Comanche County.
Comanche County is between Abilene and Waco.
The DPS released the following statement Friday afternoon:
The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) is currently investigating a fatal crash at the intersection of TX-36 and FM 1702.
At approximately 8:00 a.m., this morning a fatal crash occurred at the intersection of TX-36 and FM 1702 in Comanche County. A Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) bus transporting inmates, was traveling east on TX-36. A white Ford pickup was traveling south on FM 1702. The pickup failed to yield right of way, pulling out in front of the bus. The bus crashed into the pickup and the pickup came to rest in a field on the south side of TX-36. The bus spun around and rolled onto its right side and came to rest facing west. The driver of the pickup died at the scene.
The driver of the pickup was identified as Kalyn Rae Brymer, Thorndale, Texas, female, 24 years of age.
Next of kin has been notified.
The TDCJ released the following statement on Friday:
A Texas Department of Criminal Justice transport bus was involved in a two-vehicle accident in Gustine, Texas at 7:52 AM on Friday, February 19, 2016. The accident happened at the intersection of State Highway 36 and FM 1702. The driver of a civilian vehicle involved in the accident was killed. The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating.
31 offenders and two Correctional Officers were onboard the TDCJ bus. All are being transported from the scene with what appear to be non-life threatening injuries. They are being taken to hospitals in Fort Worth, Temple, Hamilton, Comanche and Brownwood, as well as a TDCJ unit with an infirmary in Gatesville.
