School bus crash near Kountze

A Kountze ISD school bus was struck on State Highway 326 near Laird Road on Wednesday afternoon. The crash involved four passenger vehicles and the school bus.

According to preliminary reports, a Kountze ISD school bus was stopped, southbound on State Highway 326, unloading school children. There were three passenger vehicles stopped behind the school bus. The driver of a Dodge truck attempted to pass the stopped vehicles on the shoulder of the roadway. The driver of the Dodge truck side-swiped the three passenger vehicles and then slammed into the back of the school bus.

The school bus was occupied by the bus driver and 11 children at the time of the crash. Four of the 11 children and the bus driver were transported by ambulance to Baptist Hospital with minor injuries. The driver of the Dodge truck, which caused this crash, was transported in critical condition to St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. The drivers of the other vehicles did not receive any injuries.

The driver of the school bus is 29 year old Lindie Roundtree of Kountze. Roundtree was transported to Baptist hospital by ambulance with minor injuries.

The four school children injured in the crash ranged in age from 5 to 12 years of age and all children were transported by ambulance to Baptist hospital with minor injuries.

The driver of the 2002 Honda Accord is 18 year old Megan Jordan of Kountze. Jordan was transported by ambulance to Baptist hospital with minor injuries. Jordan's vehicle was the first vehicle struck in the crash.

The driver of the 1996 Dodge truck is 58 year old Sandra West of Kountze. West was transported by medical helicopter to St. ELizabeth hospital in critical condition. Her condition has been upgraded to stable condition with a broken hip.

The drivers of the other two vehicles, a 2007 Toyota Corolla and a 2007 Dodge truck, involved in the crash were not injured.

This is an ongoing investigation and Troopers will look at all factors that may have contributed to this crash.