TRINITY, Texas (AP) — East Texas officials say a student died when a school van that had stopped to pick up children was rear-ended, and 10 students and the driver of the van were injured.
The state Department of Public Safety says the Trinity Independent School District van was struck Thursday morning about 75 miles north of Houston.
Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace says a 7-year-old girl who was riding the van died at the hospital.
A spokeswoman for East Texas Medical Center in Trinity says 10 injured students from the van and the truck, as well as the driver of van, were in fair condition.
Wallace says three students were in the pickup, including a 17-year-old driver. Authorities think the sun may have blinded the driver as the vehicle came over a hill.
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And this is why you should not transport students in vans. School buses have large heavy frames to soak up much the force of a collision from the front or rear, the most common type of accident. If your school district is using vans, please organize an effort to require purchase of school buses.
Condolences to the family.