AUSTIN (KXAN) — The truck driver arrested in connection with a deadly Hays CISD school bus crash in 2024 pleaded guilty Monday just hours after his defense attorney requested additional time for discovery at a hearing in Bastrop County.
Jerry Hernandez, charged with two counts of manslaughter and two counts of criminally negligent homicide, entered a guilty plea on all four counts for 18 years, which will run concurrently. The charge won’t include a deadly weapon designation.
KXAN reached out to the Bastrop County District Attorney’s Office for additional details on the agreement.
Two people died and multiple people were injured in the crash on State Highway 21 on March 22, 2024. The bus, carrying 44 Tom Green Elementary pre-K students and 11 adults, was returning from a field trip when a concrete truck veered into the bus’ lane, hitting the front of the vehicle and causing it to roll over, authorities said.
Five-year-old Ulises Rodriguez Montoya, who was on the bus, and 33-year-old Ryan Wallace, who was traveling in a car behind the bus, died in the crash.
“I do hope that this feels like justice for the family,” said Hays CISD Spokesperson Tim Savoy. “But justice is one thing. On the other hand, there’s nothing that’s going to bring Ulysses back, and that’s going to be pain that the family has to endure forever.”
The judge still has to accept the plea before sentencing occurs. A decision on the plea is expected at Hernandez’s next hearing — set for Sept. 18.
‘Put us into action’
The crash pushed Hays CISD to create an accelerated plan to outfit all of its buses with seatbelts. The one involved in the crash did not have them.
“It’s very rare to have a school bus fatality in the state. It really put us into action, Savoy said. “All the busses that run regular routes every day, and most of the field trip busses and all that now are already equipped with seat belts.”
Savoy said the district is on its final phase of reaching its goal. Thanks to a recent bond approval, Hays CISD can order the last 22 busses it needs to have its fleet fully equipped with seatbelts.
“Hopefully we’ll be able to get this last batch of busses in, definitely within the year, but as soon as they can make them, we’ll be certain to put them in a service,” Savoy said.
This developing story will be updated.
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