Bus driver blamed for crash that injured nine, including semi truck driver and students

New Mexico State Police (NMSP) say that a school bus driver was at fault in a crash that left several people injured in the Portales area earlier this week.

The crash occurred around 7:30 a.m. on January 25 in in Roosevelt County, New Mexico.

Troopers say that a Portales School bus and a semi truck collided at the intersection of State Road 236 and Roosevelt Road T.

The initial investigation by NMSP shows that the school bus was headed south on Roosevelt Road T, when “for reasons still under investigation,” the bus driver failed to yield at the intersection and was struck by a truck hauling a load of corn traveling west on State Road 236.

The bus was loaded with 17 children between the ages of 6 and 15.

The school bus driver and six students were hospitalized with injuries thought to be non life-threatening. An additional student was initially transported to a nearby hospital with severe injuries and was later airlifted to a hospital in Texas.

The 28 year old truck driver was also hospitalized but is expected to survive.

The crash is still under investigation by NMSP.