A Texas transportation bus carrying prisoners between Abilene and El Paso skidded off an icy stretch of the interstate near Odessa, tumbled over a passing train, and killing 10 people according to USA Today.
The Texas Department of Criminal Justice confirmed that among the dead were 8 prisoners and 2 correctional officers. Five others were also injured, with four of them being in critical condition while the last one is reportedly in serious condition, a spokesperson from the Odessa Medical Center Hospital confirmed.
Trooper Elizabeth Barney of the Texas Department of Public Safety said the prisoners did not have their seat belts on and were handcuffed together in pairs. Consequently, some of them were ejected from the bus after it struck the train.
Photo Credit: Mark Sterkel, The Odessa American, via AP