School Bus & State Trooper Involved in 3-Vehicle Harlingen Accident
A school bus and state trooper were involved in a three-vehicle crash in Harlingen on October 3. Given the high stakes involved in bus accidents, we all need to do our part to avoid bus accidents on Texas roadways. Keep reading to learn more about the accident and tips for driving near school buses from the team at The Law Office of Bobby Garcia, your Harlingen car accident attorneys.
The Harlingen Auto Accident
No one was harmed in a Harlingen car accident involving an IDEA school district school bus and a Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) State Trooper patrol unit on Tuesday, October 3. The accident, which also involved a Mustang, happened at the intersection of Glasscock Avenue and Ed Carey Drive at around 4 p.m.
According to a DPS news release, the Mustang changed lanes and struck the State Trooper, forcing the vehicle to collide with the school bus. The bus was stopped at the intersection at the time of the crash. The collision pushed the bus up onto a curb and into a tree.
DPS, the Harlingen Police Department, and the Harlingen Fire Department responded to the scene. The bus driver and five of the students were taken to nearby hospitals for evaluations. Parents of IDEA students were told to pick up their children from the crash scene.
School Bus Safety Tips for Drivers
Thankfully, the majority of Texas bus accidents aren’t severe. In fact, in 2022, 79% of school bus accidents in Texas led to no injuries at all, and less than one-tenth of one percent led to a fatality. Still, each Texas car accident can become a tragedy, and school bus accidents have the potential to be particularly devastating because children are often involved. It’s important that we all take steps to prevent these sorts of tragedies by taking care when driving near school buses.
The next time you find yourself on the road near a school bus, make sure you follow the rules and tips below:
Watch for school buses
Slow down and watch for children when you drive near a bus
Watch for flashing lights and be prepared to stop
Always stop when approaching a bus with its “STOP” sign extended
Leave plenty of room when following a bus
Watch for children making unexpected and sudden movements
Avoid driving while distracted
Be aware of blind spots caused by buses in your view
Be ready to stop at railroad crossings
Remember: children are small and more likely to act erratically. This means you need to take more care to ensure that no children are below your line of sight, and you need to be alert when driving near children to be ready to react to their movements.
If you or someone you love were injured in a Harlingen car accident, the Edinburg car accident attorneys at The Law Office of Bobby Garcia are ready to help.
Source: KRGV5