School bus accident
DEL VALLE, Texas -- Juan Palafox, Jr.'s routine ride to Del Valle Middle School turned into an accident scene Friday morning.
"There was a lot of screaming on the bus and there was a lot of panicking," 13-year-old Palafox said.
Austin police say the driver of a SUV slammed into a sedan that was stopped behind a school bus on Pearce Lane near Ross Road just before 8:00 a.m. That forced the sedan to rear end the school bus. Fifty-one students were on board.
"The cars were stopped. The person, for whatever reason, struck the vehicle from behind. So there's really not much that the bus or the sedan could have done," says Austin Police Senior Officer Veneza Aguinaga.
Palafox was sitting in the middle of the bus.
"My head like hit the front of the seat, and I fell back. At first I really didn't know what happened until I got off the bus and a little after. I felt my head start to hurt a little bit," Juan recalled.
Police don't know why the driver of the SUV was distracted or how fast he was traveling. The damage to all three vehicles will provide the clues.
Police did cite him for causing the accident. They issued him a citation. He now faces a fine of up to $500.
The driver of the SUV, the driver and passenger in the sedan, and 18 students were taken to three area hospitals. Five were taken to the University Medical Center Brackenridge, and six people, including Palafox, were taken to Dell Children's. The others went to Saint David's South. All suffered minor injuries, including whiplash.
"He's my only son," said Juan Palafox, Sr.
Palafox rushed to the accident scene. He says he's relieved his son is okay and thanks the bus driver.
"I think they're doing the best they can. You know they've got signs everywhere. You know the school's right there; its very visible. I just don't understand," Palafox, Sr. added.
Police say drivers should be on alert when driving around buses so accidents like Friday's wont happen again.
