Head-On Collision Kills 7 on Texas Interstate

A bus carrying a church group swerved to avoid a crash, then hit another vehicle and rolled over on a rain-soaked interstate Friday morning, killing seven people, authorities said.

Five of those killed were on the bus and two were in a sport utility vehicle hit head-on as the bus swerved into oncoming traffic, said Tom Vinger, a state Department of Public Safety spokesman.

The bus carried more than 30 people, and many of them were injured.

The bus came to rest on its side with a crushed black vehicle partially underneath it. Dozens of firefighters and other rescuers worked to get people out of the bus.

Eighteen victims were treated at Providence Health Center in Waco for injuries that were not life-threatening, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Fifteen others were taken to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center, with five of them listed in critical condition, officials said.

Don Bledsoe, 73, said he was in the bus bathroom during the wreck and was not injured.

“I felt the bus swerve, then I guess it lost control,” Bledsoe said. “Next thing I knew, we were laying down.”

Bledsoe considered himself lucky for leaving his seat near the front of the bus.

The bus was carrying a group from Memorial Baptist Church in Temple that was traveling to a concert in Dallas.

A church deacon, Dick Stafford, said most of the passengers were between 60 and 80 years old.

Family members gathered at the church to await word on their relatives.

“I don’t guess life is supposed to be easy,” Stafford said. “When you’re having good times, you better enjoy them.”

The bus was operated by Waco-based Central Texas Trails Inc. A woman who answered the company’s phone said officials did not have any further information.

Interstate 35 is the major route linking Dallas, Austin and San Antonio. Hewitt is about 90 miles north of Austin and 25 miles north of Temple.