MESQUITE (WBAP/KLIF) – The Mesquite middle school student killed in a school bus crash Wednesday on Lawson Road in Mesquite was identified as 12-year-old Jazmine Alfaro, according to a Police report obtained by WBAP/KLIF Thursday.
Investigators say the Mesquite ISD school bus was traveling south on Lawson when the rear passenger tires left the road and began pulling the bus down a grassy decline. The bus driver, identified as 67-year-old John Johnson, corrected and drove to the left, causing the front of the bus to go over the double yellow line into oncoming traffic. According to the Police report, Johnson then turned back to the right, to avoid oncoming traffic, which caused the bus to leave the roadway and roll on its side into a utility pole. A power supply line fell from the pole onto the bus and ignited a fire. Alfaro was reportedly trapped inside the bus when it flipped on its side. Several people attempted to free her from the bus but were unable to.
Johnson and two other students were hospitalized. More than 40 students were on board at the time of the crash. No one else was seriously hurt. It’s not known if Johnson will face charges.
A memorial was set up where the accident happened on Lawson Road Thursday.
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