10 dead when Texas prison bus skids off US highway, hits train

[webfact]

10 dead when Texas prison bus skids off highway, hits train
By BETSY BLANEY and DAVID WARREN

ODESSA, Texas (AP) — A prison bus skidded off an icy Texas highway, slid down an embankment and collided with a passing freight train Wednesday, killing eight inmates and two corrections officers, including the bus driver, authorities said.

The overpass on Interstate 20 was slick with ice Wednesday morning when the Texas Department of Criminal Justice bus left the roadway in Penwell, just west of Odessa, according to Ector County Sheriff Mark Donaldson.

The prisoners, who did not have seat belts, were handcuffed together in pairs, officials said. Some of them were ejected from the bus after it struck the train, said Trooper Elizabeth Barney of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

An earlier accident on the I-20 overpass may have contributed to the prison bus losing control, Donaldson said.

"It's as bad as you can imagine," Odessa Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Kavin Tinney told the Odessa American newspaper. "In 32 years it's as bad as anything I've seen."

The Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed the 10 deaths in a statement, adding that four prisoners and one corrections officer were also injured.

Jason Clark, a Department of Criminal Justice spokesman, said the bus was new and had been placed in service only this past summer. It was taking the inmates from the Middleton prison in Abilene to the Sanchez prison in El Paso, which is about 250 miles west of where the accident happened.

The prisoners did not have any leg restraints, said Jason Heaton, agency director for the region. Only the driver's seat had a seat belt, he said. Like many buses, the vehicle did not have seat belts on the bench-type seats where the prisoners were seated.

After the accident around 7:30 a.m., the white bus came to rest on its side, next to the railroad tracks, crumpled with heavy damage to its front and undercarriage. The top of the bus was caved inward.

The Union Pacific freight train with four locomotives and 58 cars came to a stop soon after. None of the cars derailed, but two containers at the rear of the train were damaged, said Mark Davis, a railroad spokesman.

The containers were carrying hundreds of parcels and packages, many of which were strewn along the tracks.

No Union Pacific employees were injured.

A prison system statement identified the dead as correctional officers Christopher Davis, 53, and Eligio Garcia, 45; and inmates Byron Wilson, 34; Tyler Townsend, 29; Jesus Reyna, 44; Kaleb Wise, 22; Adolfo Ruiz, 32; Michael Sewart, 25; Angel Vasquez, 31; and Jeremiah Rodriguez, 35. The statement did not say which officer was driving the bus or provide details about additional details about the prisoners.

Correctional officer Jason Self, 38, and inmates Terry Johnson, 22, and Damien Rodriguez, 22, were hospitalized in critical condition, the prison system said. Inmates Remigio Pineda, 34, and Hector Rivera, 37, were in serious condition.

The train, which was traveling from the Los Angeles area to Marion, Arkansas, remained stopped at the accident site several hours after the accident, Davis said.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of inspectors to the scene.

Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick issued a statement offering condolences to the families of those killed in the wreck.

"I also pray for a speedy recovery of a third correctional staff member and four offenders who were transported with injuries," he said.

In June, an inmate was killed and several other people were injured when a Department of Criminal Justice van collided with a car in Central Texas.
___

Warren reported from Dallas. Associated Press writers Terry Wallace and Diana Heidgerd in Dallas also contributed to this report.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-01-15

[neverdie]

Pity about the prison guards.RIP.

[rotary]

RIP to the Guards.

That will save the tax payer a bit of cash on keeping prisoners.

[strapper1]

RIP to the Guards.

That will save the tax payer a bit of cash on keeping prisoners.

The prisoners are human also, the crude comment about saving taxpayers money is totally inappropriate. We have no information of why they were imprisoned. I only hope that their families are compensated. Remember, judge not, that you be not judged. He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone!

[Nemesis7]

tragic.

[jayjayjayjay]

Nicolas Cage, Vin Deisel, The Rock and the ghost of Paul Walker all spotted walking away from the scene!!!!

Edited January 15, 2015 by jayjayjayjay

[sential]

Moronic opening 2 posts to this thread.

[Mosha]

RIP to the Guards.

That will save the tax payer a bit of cash on keeping prisoners.

The prisoners are human also, the crude comment about saving taxpayers money is totally inappropriate. We have no information of why they were imprisoned. I only hope that their families are compensated. Remember, judge not, that you be not judged. He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone!

Whilst they were not from an high security nick. If they were good people they would not have been on the bus. The staff were just doing a job.

[Nuddy]

Natural culling

[BigBadGeordie]

Natural culling

Shit I wish I was as perfect as you

[Bigfarang1948]

Pity about the prison guards.RIP.

I guess this gives new meaning to death row. RIP

Rather stupid of the Department of Corrections to travel with such hzardous road conditions.

[Bigfarang1948]

RIP to the Guards.

That will save the tax payer a bit of cash on keeping prisoners.

The prisoners are human also, the crude comment about saving taxpayers money is totally inappropriate. We have no information of why they were imprisoned. I only hope that their families are compensated. Remember, judge not, that you be not judged. He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone!

Whilst they were not from an high security nick. If they were good people they would not have been on the bus. The staff were just doing a job.

You can bet your last baht they were not on the bus because they were mere shop lifters and Swisher Sweets stealing thugs

[tw25rw]

RIP to the Guards.

That will save the tax payer a bit of cash on keeping prisoners.

The prisoners are human also, the crude comment about saving taxpayers money is totally inappropriate. We have no information of why they were imprisoned. I only hope that their families are compensated. Remember, judge not, that you be not judged. He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone!

Whilst they were not from an high security nick. If they were good people they would not have been on the bus. The staff were just doing a job.

You can bet your last baht they were not on the bus because they were mere shop lifters and Swisher Sweets stealing thugs

So that means they deserve to die?

And I wouldn't assume that the people employed to manage them were any more decent.

[Bwanatickey]

We all have made some huge mistakes in life, and some unlucky ones go to prison.

And the most unlucky are the innocent folks, who didn't even do it, hope non of them where on that bus.

[MiKT]

RIP to the Guards.

That will save the tax payer a bit of cash on keeping prisoners.

The prisoners are human also, the crude comment about saving taxpayers money is totally inappropriate. We have no information of why they were imprisoned. I only hope that their families are compensated. Remember, judge not, that you be not judged. He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone!

Whilst they were not from an high security nick. If they were good people they would not have been on the bus. The staff were just doing a job.

You have to be really sick to post like this, it's the equivalent of the Asian (I won't say Thai since it used to be the law in Singapore)saying that any accident is your fault because "if you were not in the country, the accident would not have happened".

Total lack of humanity.

[BigBadGeordie]

RIP to the Guards.

That will save the tax payer a bit of cash on keeping prisoners.

The prisoners are human also, the crude comment about saving taxpayers money is totally inappropriate. We have no information of why they were imprisoned. I only hope that their families are compensated. Remember, judge not, that you be not judged. He who is without sin, let him cast the first stone!

Whilst they were not from an high security nick. If they were good people they would not have been on the bus. The staff were just doing a job.

You have to be really sick to post like this, it's the equivalent of the Asian (I won't say Thai since it used to be the law in Singapore)saying that any accident is your fault because "if you were not in the country, the accident would not have happened".

Total lack of humanity.

And white men can't jump, and Polish people and Irish people and and and and and........

End

[MiKT]

And white men can't jump, and Polish people and Irish people and and and and and........

End

I never heard that Polish people can't jump, please would you be kind enough to substantiate that statement, it will undoubtedly amuse all my German friends who will have noted that invading Poland and shouting "Raus" normally have exactly that effect.

[neverdie]

Moronic opening 2 posts to this thread.

Your one is even more moronic.

[MiKT]

And white men can't jump, and Polish people and Irish people and and and and and........

End

I never heard that Polish people can't jump, please would you be kind enough to substantiate that statement, it will undoubtedly amuse all my German friends who will have noted that invading Poland and shouting "Raus" normally have exactly that effect.

has

[sential]

Moronic opening 2 posts to this thread.

Your one is even more moronic.

Really? Yours is particularly moronic as you are not concerned that one group of people have died over another group, solely on the basis that they are incarcerated. Most right minded, intelligent folk would think that makes you pretty stupid. Feel free to explain how me pointing out how stupid you are, makes me more stupid..... (Other than I should know better by now to argue with idiots on the internet...)

[BigBadGeordie]

Moronic opening 2 posts to this thread.

Your one is even more moronic.

Really? Yours is particularly moronic as you are not concerned that one group of people have died over another group, solely on the basis that they are incarcerated. Most right minded, intelligent folk would think that makes you pretty stupid. Feel free to explain how me pointing out how stupid you are, makes me more stupid..... (Other than I should know better by now to argue with idiots on the internet...)

I think the very old adage is "those who can, do. Those who cannot, teach"

So just to update a little, "those who can, make relevant comments on social media. Those who cannot, call those who can moronic".

[neverdie]

Moronic opening 2 posts to this thread.

Your one is even more moronic.

Really? Yours is particularly moronic as you are not concerned that one group of people have died over another group, solely on the basis that they are incarcerated. Most right minded, intelligent folk would think that makes you pretty stupid. Feel free to explain how me pointing out how stupid you are, makes me more stupid..... (Other than I should know better by now to argue with idiots on the internet...)

I simply made the comment, " pity about the prison guards, RIP " I made no negative comment regarding any prisoner. No comment whatsoever. You might want to mourn the deaths of convicted criminals but just because I chose to direct my condolences towards the prison guards you feel you have the right to label my comment moronic.

Pull your head in fool.

[chiang mai]

Jerk

[BigBadGeordie]

Moronic opening 2 posts to this thread.

Your one is even more moronic.

Really? Yours is particularly moronic as you are not concerned that one group of people have died over another group, solely on the basis that they are incarcerated. Most right minded, intelligent folk would think that makes you pretty stupid. Feel free to explain how me pointing out how stupid you are, makes me more stupid..... (Other than I should know better by now to argue with idiots on the internet...)

I simply made the comment, " pity about the prison guards, RIP " I made no negative comment regarding any prisoner. No comment whatsoever. You might want to mourn the deaths of convicted criminals but just because I chose to direct my condolences towards the prison guards you feel you have the right to label my comment moronic.

Pull your head in fool.

If it walks like a duck, sounds like a duck and looks like a duck........well then it's probably.....

If the poster has to justify the post, then adds an insult, then probably ........

[daveAustin]

The prisoners are human also,

Indeed, though the world would like be a better place for law-abiding people if there were no prisoners, eh what what! By the by, anyone notice a few Mexican names in there? Gotta be at least one MS-13 gang-banger among them.

[chuckd]

Putting all the morons to the side, here is a list of the deceased prisoners and the crimes they were being held for:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

According to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice following were the prisoners who died, along with their convictions and their residences of record:

Byron Wilson, 34, of Potter County, sentenced for possession of a controlled substance

Tyler Townsend, 29, of Tarrant County, sentenced for evading arrest with previous convictions

Jesus Reyna, 44, of Ector County, sentenced for evading arrest and possession of cocaine

Kaleb Wise, 22, of Taylor County, sentenced for burglary

Adolfo Ruiz, 32, of Tarrant County, sentenced for labeling unauthorized recordings

Michael Stewart, 25, of Tarrant County, sentenced for theft of property and evading arrest

Angel Vasquez, 31, of Potter County, sentenced for assault on a family member

Jeremiah Rodriguez, 35, of Ector County, sentenced for theft

Correctional officer Jason Self, 38, and inmates Terry Johnson, 22, and Damien Rodriguez, 22, were hospitalized in critical condition, the prison system said. Inmates Remigio Pineda, 34, and Hector Rivera, 37, were in serious condition.

http://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/Officials-Prison-Bus-Involved-in-Fatal-Wreck-288552971.html