GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas – A girl is in critical condition after authorities say she purposely hit an emergency exit button on a school bus and jumped out onto a major highway Monday afternoon.
Galveston County Sheriff's officials say a school bus coming from an alternative education program in Texas City was traveling southbound on Interstate 45 near Bayou Vista in Galveston County when a 13-year-old girl hit the emergency exit button and jumped out.
Authorities say the girl got into an altercation with another girl on the school bus. The driver then separated them – one in the front and one in the back. Officials say the teen hit the emergency exit button on purpose and jumped onto the highway.
"The back door of the bus opened, and then the alarm sounded, which made several of the kids focus their attention toward the back door," said Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset. "They witnessed this 13-year-old young lady jump onto the freeway."
The teen was transported to the University of Texas Medical Branch hospital in Galveston where she remains in critical condition. She was not struck by any other vehicles.
Officials with the Galveston Independent School District were notified of the incident at 3:45 p.m. Monday. They say six students were on the bus, three of them were released to their parents and two were transported home.
Officials say there was surveillance video on the bus, but investigators have not yet reviewed the footage. They do not expect foul play in this incident and believe the girl jumped out of the bus on her own.
District officials released the following statement on Tuesday morning:
At this time, the incident is currently under investigation. The Galveston County Sheriff's Office is the lead agency, and Galveston ISD is doing everything in its power to assist this entity. The student and her family are in our thoughts.
