18 injured in charter bus crash on Texas highway, some ejected from broken side windows

Charter bus hits Texas highway barrier, 18 injured

SANGER, Texas — A charter bus struck a highway barrier after leaving Dallas early Saturday morning, injuring 18 people, including one seriously.

The bus left Dallas and was headed to Oklahoma City when it crashed just after midnight near Vanger, about 50 miles north of Dallas, said Trooper Lonny Haschel of the Texas Department of Safety.

The bus driver told authorities that a vehicle swerved in front of him and he took evasive action by pulling into the inside shoulder of the highway. The bus struck the concrete barrier and came to rest on the grassy median, Haschel said. It didn’t overturn, but five passengers were ejected through side windows.

Eighteen of the 33 bus passengers were taken to three area hospitals with varying degrees of injuries, including one who was transported in serious condition, Haschel said. The hospitals declined to release condition updates Saturday morning.

Deschel said the bus belonged to Renacimento LLC, of Dallas. After stopping in Oklahoma City, it was scheduled to travel to Little Rock, Ark., he said.