TRINITY COUNTY, Texas – A 7-year-old student has died in a school van crash Thursday morning in Trinity County.
The accident happened on FM 1893, about five miles west of Trinity. The Texas Department of Public Safety said around 7:30 a.m. Thursday a Trinity Independent School District van with eight children on board stopped to pick up a student on FM 1893 when a 2008 Ford pickup, which DPS said was driven by 17-year-old Micah Brock, slammed into the back of the van.
A 7-year-old girl who was a passenger in the van suffered serious injuries and was taken to East Texas Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead.
VIDEO: Aerials of Trinity County crash
The Trinity County Sheriff's Office identified the girl as Journey Magness, daughter of Deputy Magness.
The sheriff's office posted a statement to Facebook that read in part, "Please give the family their privacy as they mourn the loss of their baby girl. Please offer prayers for comfort to everyone involved as well as Journey's classmates and friends.
"An account has been set up at First National Bank in Trinity for anyone asking about financial help. Send to: David Magness benefit for Journey Magness% First National Bank PO Box 792. Trinity, Texas 75862"
Five other children were taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. The three other children and the van's driver were taken to ETMC by private vehicle.
Investigators said all the children were properly secured on the van.
The driver of the van was identified as 55-year-old Chandra Wheeler, of Trinity. She was not injured.
Three passengers in the pickup truck were taken to ETMC.
FM 1893 will be closed for several hours during the investigation and motorists are urged to find alternate routes.
On behalf of Deputy Magness and his family, thank you for all the support and calls. As the news has reported, a fatal...
Posted by Trinity County Sheriff Woody Wallace on Thursday, December 1, 2016