Mineral Wells, Texas — Nine students have been taken to the hospital following a Friday morning (12/13/2013) hit and run accident between a Ford pickup truck and a Mineral Wells ISD school bus.
According to reports, at about 7:15 a.m. a MWISD school bus was traveling northbound on FM 1195, and had stopped at the MH 379 stop sign (right next to the Mineral Wells Airport). As the bus started to turn, it was struck from behind by a Ford pickup truck. The impact actually forced the bus into a ditch. Mineral Wells police Sgt. Caleb Randall says that nine of the 18-20 students were taken to a hospital for treatment and later released. The injured students reportedly range in age from 6 to 12
As the bus driver tended to the injured kids, the driver of the pickup truck fled the scene. Luckily, a witness called 911 and followed the suspect. Police were able to stop the Ford pickup and arrest the driver, 26-year-old Matthew Cougar of Strawn, TX. Investigators say they plan on conducting a blood draw to find out if alcohol played any role in the collision.
