In a devastating accident on Friday, a collision between a bus and a concrete truck resulted in the loss of a young life. Identified as Ulises, the five-year-old boy tragically passed away in the incident, according to the Hays Consolidated Independent School District (Hays CISD). Alongside Ulises, an adult in a car driving behind the bus also lost their life.

The accident occurred on State Highway 21 near Caldwell Road when the concrete truck veered into the bus's lane. Austin-Travis County EMS responded promptly, attending to a total of 53 injured individuals, many of whom were children returning from a field trip to the Capital of Texas Zoo in Bastrop County.

The news of Ulises' untimely demise has deeply saddened the Hays CISD community. Dr. Eric Wright, the superintendent of Hays CISD, expressed his profound grief, stating that this is the first time he has experienced such a loss in his 20-year tenure as superintendent.

Hays CISD has canceled classes on Monday, allowing students and staff to access counseling services from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Extending their support, Wright personally met with Ulises' family and the bus driver, who displayed immense bravery and compassion during the chaotic aftermath of the accident.

The lack of seat belts on the bus has raised concerns regarding student safety. Hays CISD revealed that approximately 40 buses in their fleet do not have seat belts. In response to this tragedy, the district has expedited their plan to replace these buses. Within the next 3-4 weeks, the school district expects to receive a new batch of buses equipped with seat belts. Additionally, the Facilities and Bond Oversight Committee, with the approval of the School Board, plans to replace spare buses with those featuring seat belts.

This unfortunate incident underscores ongoing concerns about school bus safety. A decade ago, another fatal bus accident in Beaumont prompted investigations by KXAN into this matter. Stephen Forman, whose daughter was severely injured in that incident, has been advocating for improved safety measures and increased funding. While progress has been made, Forman believes there is still much work to be done to protect the state's children.

The Texas Education Agency (TEA) established the School Bus Seat Belt Safety program in 2007, allowing school districts to apply for state funding to install seat belts on buses. However, it is unclear if Hays CISD has previously requested or received this funding. The allocation of funding lies within the responsibility of the State Legislature, and it remains unknown if they provided the necessary support during the last session.

Funeral and memorial services are being planned for Ulises, and the community has come together to support his family through a GoFundMe campaign to cover funeral expenses. Another GoFundMe page has been set up to assist the Tom Green Elementary community during this difficult time.

As the community continues to grapple with this tragedy, Dr. Eric Wright finds solace in his faith and believes that it will provide strength and support in the healing process.