A Texas prison bus skidded off an icy highway overpass in West Texas, veered down an embankment and collided with a passing train on Wednesday, immediately killing at least 10 people, authorities said based on preliminary reports.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice bus, carrying 12 inmates and three corrections officers, was traveling from the Middleton prison in Abilene to Sanchez prison in El Paso on Wednesday morning when it came across an icy overpass on Interstate 20, according to Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson.
Eight state prisoners and two corrections officers have been killed, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice said in a statement, adding that five others had been taken to Medical Center Hospital in Odessa after suffering injuries, Reuters reported.
"It's with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of those killed and injured this morning in a tragic accident," said Brad Livingston, executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. "Their loved ones will be in our thoughts and prayers."
On Wednesday, the bus left the roadway just west of Odessa when it ran off the bridge and tumbled onto the middle of the railroad tracks near the town of Penwell, the Odessa-America reported. Upon impact from Union Pacific train at about 7:30 a.m., the bus was left crumpled with heavy damage to its top and undercarriage.
The train, which was carrying freight, did not have any injuries, according to the Associated Press.
Although officials did not have information on the severity of the injured victims, the number of fatalities was confirmed by Sgt. Elizabeth Barney with the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Meanwhile, State Rep. Tan Parker notified the Texas House of the accident and led a moment of silence.
