At least 13 people were killed and two others injured in a head-on crash Wednesday between a church bus and pickup truck in southwest Texas, officials said.

All of the victims who died were senior adults who attended First Baptist Church of New Braunfels, Texas, including the driver.

A total of 14 senior adults were on the bus and the driver was the only person in the pickup when the vehicles collided about 12:30 p.m. on U.S. 83 outside Garner State Park in northern Uvalde County, according to Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Conrad Hein and a church statement.

The area is about 75 miles west of San Antonio.

Hein said two other bus passengers and the pickup driver were injured and hospitalized. One of those passengers died at a San Antonio hospital late Wednesday, DPS Lt. Johnny Hernandez said. The lone surviving passenger was hospitalized in critical condition, while the truck driver was hospitalized in stable condition, he said.



Photographs and video from the scene showed heavy damage to the front drivers' sides of the small white bus and pickup truck, which are the portions of the vehicles where they appear to have collided.

The back of the bus was up on a guardrail and debris was scattered onto the grass below.

An area resident told the Uvalde Leader-News she was behind one of the vehicles involved in the crash, and had contacted law enforcement to report reckless driving. Before help arrived, she had the crash took place.

The First Baptist New Braunfels church asked for those to "please be in prayer for all involved" in a series of statements on its Facebook page.

Pastor Brad McLean addressed members of the media Wednesday night as the congregation gathered at the church for prayer and support, KABB/WOAI-TV reported

"As a church, we're waiting for some official news from authorities before we can speak to anything," McLean said.

The church needs prayer more than anything else during this time, according to McLean, and members of the church gathered to do "what church families do."

"They're coming together, they're crying together, praying together and of course there's anxiousness as to who was on the bus and what their condition is," McLean said.

"You never know what the day is going to bring," he added. "The Lord tells us that we have today, tomorrow is not promised."

The Uvalde County Sheriff's Office said that Highway 83 North is closed South of Garner State Park, and will be closed for several hours.

The Uvalde County Fire Marshals told KABB/WOAI-TV DPS and EMS units, as well as Airlife, were on the scene.

A representative from Airlife said two people were transported to University Hospital.

"We are saddened by the loss of life and our hearts go out to all those affected," Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. "We thank the first responders working on the scene in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, and ask that all Texans join us in offering their thoughts and prayers.”

The National Transportation Safety Board said in a tweet Wednesday night, "The NTSB is investigating today’s highway accident in Concan, Texas."

Hein said the small bus was a 2004 Turtle Top, though he did not know the specific model. Turtle Top's website features shuttle buses with capacities ranging from 17 to 51 passengers, which they bill as "a great alternative to the standard 15-passenger van."

Safety concerns have long surrounded the 15-passenger vans, also frequently used by churches and other groups, with advocates saying they can be difficult to control in an emergency.

Read more from FoxSanAntonio.com.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.</s>At least 12 people died in a head-on collision involving a church bus and pickup truck near Garner State Park in Texas. At least 12 people were killed and three injured in a head-on crash Wednesday between a church bus and pickup truck in southwest Texas, officials said.

Start the conversation, or Read more at Fox News.</s>UVALDE COUNTY, Texas — A crash between a church van and a pickup truck killed at least 12 people Wednesday afternoon in southwest Texas. Three people were injured in the head-on collision.

It happened on U.S. 83 outside Garner State Park, about 75 miles west of San Antonio in Uvalde County.

The church van was carrying older passengers who were returning home from a retreat.

A spokesman with the Texas Department of Public Safety said there were 14 people in the church van and one person in the pickup truck.

The investigation into what caused the crash was just beginning.</s>A dozen people were dead and three others were injured after a pickup truck veered into a church van carrying senior citizens Wednesday afternoon in Texas, authorities said.

The driver of the pickup truck survived and was airlifted to a San Antonio hospital after the crash, which occurred about 12:23 p.m. (1:23 p.m. ET) near Garner State Park in Concan, Sgt. Conrad Hein of the state Department of Public Safety told NBC News.

The agency told NBC News that the van and the Dodge pickup were the only vehicles involved. All of the dead were aboard the bus, including its driver, as were the two other injured people, authorities said.

Conditions and identities of none of the victims were made public Wednesday night.

The pickup truck was traveling northbound, and the church bus was traveling southbound, officials said.

Authorities were still investigating what led to the crash on Wednesday night. The National Transportation Safety Board said it would also investigate.

First Baptist New Braunfels Church said in a statement on Facebook that a “group of our senior adults” were returning home from a three-day retreat when they were involved in the crash. The church said counselors would be on hand Thursday and asked for prayers for the church family.

Church administrator Norm Hills told NBC News that the church had very little information and was “anxiously awaiting calls from DPS.”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott expressed his condolences in a statement on Twitter, saying, “We are saddened by the loss of life and our hearts go out to all those affected.”

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, also tweeted a statement, saying his “prayers are with the families impacted by this tragic accident — especially for those who have lost loved ones.”</s>Twelve people were killed and three others were injured Wednesday when a pickup truck slammed head-on into a van carrying 14 senior members of a Texas Hill Country church on a two-lane highway in southwestern Texas, authorities said.

The crash happened about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday on U.S. 83 outside Garner State Park, about 75 miles west of San Antonio, said Sgt. Conrad Hein of the Texas Department of Public Safety.

It was unclear if the lone occupant of the pickup truck was among the dead or how many of the dead were among the 14 aboard the church van, Hein said.

Photographs and video from the scene showed heavy damage to the front drivers' sides of the small white bus and pickup truck, which are the portions of the vehicles where they appear to have collided. The back of the bus was up on a guardrail and debris was scattered onto the grass below.

The 14 in the van were senior members of the First Baptist Church of New Braunfels, Texas.

In a statement posted on the church website, church officials said the members were returning from a three-day retreat at the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment in Leakey, about 9 miles north of the crash site.

The statement said church officials hadn't learned how many fatalities and injuries resulted from the crash. However, they were "ministering to family members to help them deal with this tragedy." Also, counselors were scheduled to be available at the church on Thursday.</s>UVALDE, Texas (AP) — Texas state trooper: Multiple fatalities in head-on crash between church van and pickup truck.</s>UVALDE COUNTY, Texas - 12 people were killed and three injured in a crash between a church bus and pickup truck, the Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday.

The Uvalde County Sheriff's Office said the major crash caused Highway 83 north to close near Garner State Park.

First Baptist Church of New Braunfels said on its website that one of its buses was involved in the crash. The bus was reportedly carrying senior citizens back from a retreat.

"We understand there have been some fatalities, but we do not yet know who. All activities for tonight are canceled. The Sanctuary will be open [Wednesday] evening for prayer and support. Please be in prayer for all involved."

A pastor at the church told KENS 5 his congregation is in shock following the crash, but "finds peace knowing his members are with the Lord."

This was reportedly an annual spring retreat people from the church would take, and it was for people age 55 and older.

The sheriff's office said traffic was being re-routed through state Highway 127 in Concan and FM 1050 near the state park.

The highway was expected to be closed for several hours.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also released a statement in response to the crash, saying he wanted to extend his deepest condolences:

"We are saddened by the loss of life, and our hearts go out to all those affected. We thank the first responders working on the scene in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy."</s>13 Church Members Killed In Collision Between Bus, Pickup Truck In Texas

Thirteen members of a church choir were killed when their bus collided head-on with a pickup truck Wednesday afternoon in Texas. The crash happened about 75 miles west of San Antonio, outside Garner State Park in Uvalde County.

On Thursday morning, the Texas Department of Public Safety released the names of the victims, who ranged in age from 61 to 87. One passenger on the bus survived and is in critical condition. The department also released the name of the pickup truck's driver, 20-year-old Jack Dillon Young of Leakey, Texas, who was in stable condition at a San Antonio hospital.

Investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board have begun looking into the cause of the crash, which shut down the highway for about 12 hours, according to Texas Public Radio.

The 13 members of First Baptist Church in New Braunfels were returning from a retreat in Leakey. The Washington Post spoke with Marcia Dean, a church member and former employee of the church, who said the choir members on the bus "had a fabulous time" at the retreat. "They sang and laughed and praised the Lord."

The San Antonio Express-News reported that congregation members gathered outside the church on Wednesday night; many had come for services and didn't learn of the crash until they arrived.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and his wife, Cecilia, offered their condolences. "We are saddened by the loss of life and our hearts go out to all those affected," Abbott said in a statement. "We thank the first responders working on the scene in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, and ask that all Texans join us in offering their thoughts and prayers."

On its Facebook page, the church posted a statement thanking people for the outpouring of love and support. "Please continue to pray," it said.</s>UVALDE COUNTY, Texas - 12 people were killed and three injured in a crash between a church bus and pickup truck, the Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday.

The Uvalde County Sheriff's Office said the major crash caused Highway 83 north to close near Garner State Park around 2 p.m.

First Baptist Church of New Braunfels said on its website that one of its buses was involved in the crash. The bus was reportedly carrying senior citizens back from a retreat.

"We understand there have been some fatalities, but we do not yet know who. All activities for [Wednesday] night are canceled. The Sanctuary will be open [Wednesday] evening for prayer and support. Please be in prayer for all involved."

A pastor at the church told KENS 5 his congregation is in shock following the crash, but "finds peace knowing his members are with the Lord."

Church leaders also said Wednesday evening that they do not have any official details regarding the identities of crash victims.

This was reportedly an annual spring retreat people from the church would take, and it was for people age 55 and older.

A DPS spokesperson said there were 14 people on the bus at the time of the crash. Only two survived. The driver of the truck also survived.

At least two of the victims were transported to University Hospital in San Antonio for treatment after the crash, according to a spokesperson for the hospital.

The highway closed for several hours after the crash. The National Transportation Safety Board also said it is investigating this incident.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also released a statement in response to the crash, saying he wanted to extend his deepest condolences:

"We are saddened by the loss of life, and our hearts go out to all those affected. We thank the first responders working on the scene in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy."</s>UVALDE, Texas (AP) — A state trooper says all 12 people killed when a small church bus and a pickup truck collided in Texas were senior adults who were returning from a three-day church retreat.

Texas Department of Public Safety Sgt. Conrad Hein also says just two of those in the church vehicle were hospitalized after surviving the crash Wednesday in northern Uvalde County around 12:30 p.m. about 75 miles west of San Antonio on U.S. Highway 83 outside Garner State Park. The lone person in the pickup truck also was injured.

Hein says the vehicle carrying members of First Baptist Church of New Braunfels, Texas, was a white 2004 Turtle Top bus.

In a statement, Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he and his wife, Cecilia, extend their “deepest condolences to the victims and the families of those involved in today’s tragic event.” He said they are “saddened by the loss of life and our hearts go out to all those affected.”

The governor added that he and his wife “thank the first responders working on the scene” and “ask that all Texans join us in offering their thoughts and prayers.”

The National Transportation Safety Board is sending investigators to the crash scene.
A head on crash between a pickup truck and a church bus outside Garner State Park in the American state of Texas kills at least 12 people and injures 3 others.