May 24, 2017 - U.S. 59 between Timpson and Tenaha was the scene of a three-vehicle crash involving a school bus, 18-wheeler and dump truck Wednesday, May 24, 2017.
A school bus was stopped to pick up two students from a residence when the incident occurred. The homeowner where the children lived stated his kids would normally have been sitting in the back of the bus once they had boarded.
Personnel with the Shelby County Sheriff's Department, Timpson Volunteer Fire Department and Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department were immediately dispatched to the scene of the incident. Once on scene, traffic was diverted from the area where it could be in Tenaha and Timpson.
According to Texas Department of Public Safety State Trooper Jesse Fountain, at around 6:30am a white 1995 Mack truck owned by O'Dirt out of Alto, Tx. and driven by Benjamin Salazar, 55 of Wells, TX, was northbound when he failed to see a school bus that was stopped to load students.
Salazar stated the sun was causing difficulty with his visibility. When Salazar noticed the school bus was stopped, he hit his brakes and the Mack truck started sliding in the outside lane.
The Mack came into contact with a blue Kenworth truck-tractor owned by Valley Trucking Co. Inc. out of Brownsville, Tx. and driven by Abel Longoria, III, 41 of Brownsville, TX, that had stopped in the inside lane for the school bus. After the Mack glanced off the Kenworth, it continued forward and struck the rear of the stopped school bus.
The Timpson ISD Bluebird school bus was driven by Sabra Sessions, 28 of Nacogdoches, with five minor passengers on board.
Two of the students on board were transported by ACE EMS to Nacogdoches Medical Center - Center Emergency Department for treatment of non life threatening injuries. The three other students were also transported by ACE EMS as a precaution.
Sessions was transported by Timpson Volunteer Ambulance Service for treatment of unknown injuries.
Salazar was issued a citation for fail to stop for loading/unloading school bus.
TxDOT arrived at the scene and helped clean spilled oil and fuel from the roadway.
The crash remains under investigation at this time.
DPS Trooper Fountain was assisted at the scene by DPS Trooper Cpl. Jimmy Faulkner.
