Children injured after alleged drunk driver strikes Newcastle ISD bus

A Newcastle ISD bus was rear-ended Friday afternoon in northern Young County, sending four children to the hospital.

According to the Mineral Wells office of the Texas Department of Public Safety, a 1994 Ford pickup ran into the back of the bus, that was stopped in the northbound lane of Hwy. 251 at True Road, which is north of Newcastle.

That pickup was driven by Edward Larance, 53, of Kemp, who was arrested and taken to Graham Regional Medical Center “for a blood draw (possible alcohol intoxication) and treatment of minor injuries,” the DPS said in a press release. 

At 5:16 p.m. the same day, Larance was arrested by DPS on a charge of driving while intoxicated – third offense or more. Larance was being held in Young County Jail on $10,000 bond as of Monday morning.

The four children who were taken to the hospital were not believed to have serious injuries.

There was no further information available on the accident as of early Monday morning. Newcastle ISD is on spring break this week.