WISE COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL) — A fourth person has died following what authorities called a mass casualty incident on U.S. Highway 287 about 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth.
According to a press release from Wise County EMS, shortly after 8 a.m. on Wednesday, August 28, 2024, a 9-1-1 call was placed for a single-vehicle accident with multiple patients involved, including several who were ejected from the vehicle.
Officials responded to the crash on northbound U.S. 287 near the exit for F.M. 1655. They said the vehicle was a 15-passenger van that was occupied by 14 people. They said the van left the highway, and it appeared to have rolled several times.
Three people were found to be deceased upon EMS’s arrival at the scene. In addition, Wise County EMS officials said at the time of the crash that three people were critically injured, six people suffered serious injuries, and two others sustained non-serious injuries.
Sgt. Tony De La Cerda, Public Information Officer for the Texas Department of Public Safety, announced on Tuesday afternoon that a fourth person died after they were transported to the hospital.
Sgt. De La Cerda said the tragic crash is just another reminder to always wear a seatbelt.
“There was one person that wore their seat belt and was able to walk away and transported for precautionary measures,” Sgt. De La Cerda said. “So using the seat belt is going to save your life. So please wear it no matter if you’re the passenger, no matter if you’re the driver, or you’re in the back seat.”
Wise County EMS officials said the cause of the accident and details are still under investigation. They said no further information is available at this time on patient conditions.
According to the Wise County Messenger, officials with the Alvord ISD Police said no students or staff members were involved in the crash.
Multiple agencies, including Wise County EMS, Wise County Emergency Management, Bowie EMS, the Wise County Sheriff’s Office, the Alvord Fire Department, and the Texas Department of Public Safety responded to the crash.
The identities of the victims have not been released as of the publication of this story.