The driver of a concrete truck that struck a Hays CISD bus head-on last year, resulting in the death of a student and the driver of another vehicle, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Jerry Hernandez, 42, was sentenced on two counts of manslaughter on Thursday for the March 22, 2024, crash on State Highway 21 in western Bastrop County. He pleaded guilty to the charges, court records show.

The crash happened as the bus was taking pre-K students from Tom Green Elementary School and 11 adults back to campus following a field trip to the Bastrop Zoo.

Hays CISD released videos from cameras on that school bus that show the oncoming concrete truck drift across the double line in front of the bus.

The bus driver steered to the right to try to avoid hitting the truck, but they collided h

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