HARRIS COUNTY, Texas (KTRK) — A woman is dead after crashing with a Cy-Fair ISD school bus with three students on board in northwest Harris County on Tuesday afternoon.
Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said the crash happened at about 1:20 p.m. at Barker Cypress and Queenston.
Authorities said a 26-year-old woman, identified as Lidia Salgado Carranza, was driving a small Nissan Rogue SUV when she exited from a private driveway and failed to yield the right of way. The school bus driver, identified as Donna Hill, reportedly tried to veer left to avoid the SUV but hit it.
Carranza was taken to Memorial Hermann Cypress Hospital in critical condition but later died. Officials said it doesn’t appear she was wearing a seatbelt and had an open container of alcohol in the SUV.
The sheriff’s office said whether Carranza was intoxicated is still under investigation.
@HCSOTexas units responded to a major crash at Barker Cypress and Queenston. A school bus, with three kids on-oard was involved. At this time, no injuries reported from the bus. The adult occupant of the second vehicle involved has been transported to a 1/2 pic.twitter.com/bQSKarzeee
— Ed Gonzalez (@SheriffEd_HCSO) October 3, 2023
The sheriff said the three students and the 64-year-old bus driver were not seriously hurt in the crash. The students’ ages range from 17 to 18 years old.
In an update, deputies said a male student was treated at the scene for minor injuries and declined to be taken to the hospital.
Deputies said the teenagers were being transported to another school. HCSO said their parents picked them up as EMS was deemed unnecessary.
When asked if Tuesday’s rainy weather played a factor in the crash, deputies said it didn’t help prevent the bus’ ability to stop in time.
Cy-Fair ISD sent the following statement on the incident involving one of their school buses:
“Yes, a CFISD bus was involved in an accident (Tuesday) afternoon at Queenston/Barker Cypress. Neither the bus driver nor the students sustained any injuries.”
Deputies closed off southbound lanes in the 11900 block of Barker Cypress as they investigated.
Please avoid the 11900 block of Barker Cypress. Southbound lanes are closed while we investigate a fatal crash involving a school bus. All students and bus driver are fine. Please pray for the family and friends of the other driver. @HCSO_PSSB @HCSOTexas pic.twitter.com/letehiHAk0
— HCSO Vehicular Crimes Division (@HCSO_VCD) October 3, 2023
Authorities said they would look at the school bus interior camera as part of the investigation.
