Deadly Athens School Bus – Union Pacific Train Collision

UPDATE: 1-25 7:35 pm Names of the injured now released;

13 year old Christopher Bonilla died in the crash

9 year old Joselyne Torres, operated on and in stable condition late Saturday at Dallas Children’s Hospital

78 year old bus driver John Stevens of Mabank, treated and released.

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ATHENS, TX – WBAP/KLIF – Athens Independent School District has confirmed the death of a 13 year old middle school student, a young boy, killed Friday in collision of a school bus and Union Pacific train. Another student, a 9 year old girl, injured in the crash, was airlifted to Dallas Children’s Hospital in critical condition. The bus driver was taken by ambulance to an area hospital; officials say no other students were aboard the bus.

Officials say the bus was pushed a quarter mile down the tracks after impact, the young girl had to be cut out of the wreckage, and the young boy who passed and the bus driver were found injured outside the wreckage. Investigation is underway. Athens Independent School District cancelled Friday evening’s athletic events following word of the tragedy.