13 dead, 3 injured in First Baptist Church of New Braunfels van, pickup crash in Concan, Texas

Sgt. Conrad Hein of the Texas Department of Public Safety also said three others were injured and taken to hospitals after the head-on collision that happened around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. 83 outside Garner State Park, about 75 miles west of San Antonio.

Church officials said in a statement on the First Baptist website(link is external) that the members were returning from a three-day retreat at the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment in Leakey, about 9 miles north of where the crash happened.

Twelve bus occupants, including the driver, died at the scene, DPS Lt. Johnny Hernandez said. Another bus passenger died at a San Antonio hospital. The pickup driver was in stable condition and the lone survivor from the bus remained hospitalized in critical condition late Wednesday, DPS said.

In a statement, Abbott said he and his wife, Cecilia, extend their "deepest condolences to the victims and the families of those involved in today's tragic event." He said they are "saddened by the loss of life and our hearts go out to all those affected."

Troopers have identified the passengers aboard the First Baptist Church of New Braunfels bus who were killed in Wednesday’s deadly crash as the group drove back following a retreat.

Jack Dillon Young, 20, of Leakey, Texas, was airlifted to University Hospital in San Antonio in stable condition following the crash, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Pastor Brad McLean said his congregation is in shock following the crash, but "finds peace" knowing his "members are with the Lord."

Law enforcement officials from two departments say they received phone calls about a pickup driving erratically shortly before a collision between a truck and church bus in southwest Texas that killed 13 people returning from a retreat.

It was while Young remained pinned in the pickup immediately after the collision that he told Leakey resident Jody Kuchler that he had been texting when the crash occurred.

He described a white Dodge truck driving recklessly. He also said he thought the driver was going around 80 miles an hour.

 One family is recalling their last moments with their loved one before a head-on collision in Uvalde County suddenly took her life.

The man identified as the driver of a pickup truck that collided with a church minibus last week in rural Texas, killing 13 people, has been released from a hospital where he was treated for his injuries.

According to the Uvalde Leader-News, “An area resident was behind one of the vehicles involved and said she called law enforcement in Uvalde and Real counties to report reckless driving. Before help arrived, however, the crash happened.”

Court records say a 20-year-old man whose pickup collided with a church minibus last month in rural Texas, killing 13 people, had taken prescription medication before driving and had marijuana in his truck.

Three days after her husband’s funeral, Dianne Barrett unexpectedly passed away. The San Antonio Express-News reports New Braunfels emergency crews were called to Barrett’s home on Tuesday morning.

Uvalde County officials said Thursday that 20-year-old Jack Young was indicted Monday on multiple charges, including intoxication manslaughter.     

Murray Barrett was driving the bus that crashed. His daughter, Jenn Barrett, recently wrote a letter to Young on her blog.

“This is not a car that got totaled out. This is not a tree that fell through a roof. This is my mother and there is better wording for this than sufficient and acquit,” said Charlotte Banks.   

He was charged with 13 counts of intoxication manslaughter and 13 counts of manslaughter charges. 

Jack Dillon Young, 21, faces between two and 270 years in prison and will be sentenced by the criminal court sometime in November, the news station reported.