Bus was heading to Furr H.S. when it fell off 610 
 
 Two students were killed when an HISD bus flew off the South Loop on Tuesday morning. (Photo: Sherry Williams / KHOU 11 News) 
 
 HOUSTON – Two students were killed and three people were injured when a Houston Independent School District bus flew off the 610 South Loop on Tuesday morning. 
 
 HISD said the bus was on the way to Furr High School when it crashed. 
 
 The victim who died at the scene was 17-year-old Mariya Johnson, a student at REACH Charter High School, a dropout recovery school on Furr's campus. 
 
 "She was a mama's baby and a daddy's girl," said Melody Johnson, Mariya's mother. 
 
 Mariya Johnson. (Photo: Family photo) 
 
 The second victim, who died at Memorial Hermann Hospital, was 14-year-old Janecia Chatman, a student at Furr. 
 
 "She was very funny. Like, she was fun to hang around. She was my best friend," said her 11-year-old sister Shanetria. "I love her and I will never forget her." 
 
 "Janecia was the apple of her parents' eye," said Meche Steele, the girls' aunt. "She was a very good student and wanted to make her parents proud of her." 
 
 The two injured students and the bus driver were taken to area hospitals. Those students, twins Brandon and Lakeshia Williams, who both attend REACH, are being treated for "non-life threatening injuries," according to the Houston Police Department. They were Chatman's cousins, according to Chatman's family. 
 
 The bus driver, Louisa Pacheco, was reported in stable condition and has been released from the hospital. 
 
 14-year-old Janecia Chatman was killed when an HISD school bus flew off the South Loop. (Photo: Family photo) 
 
 The crash happened at Telephone Road around 7 a.m. 
 
 "It was very surreal. It was almost like watching an action movie. I was trying to wrap my head around it being real. Oh my God, I'm really seeing this," said Ineasha Romero, a witness. 
 
 HPD investigators said a car being driven by an HISD teacher swerved toward the bus because she thought another car was going to drift into her lane. 
 
 "Apparently there was a late model Buick Le Sabre.....she jerked the wheel to the right," HPD spokesman Victor Senties said. "She, in turn, ends up striking the left driver's side of the school bus." 
 
 The school bus driver tried to avoid the Buick, over-corrected and went off the overpass and onto the frontage road below. 
 
 Witnesses tell KHOU 11 News the bus nose-dived and flipped before landing on its side along the freeway embankment. 
 
 “I wanted to faint," said Melvin Stovall, a witness. "It took all the breath out of me. That’s sad, that’s real sad." 
 
 People came from all over the neighborhood, many of them heard the impact from blocks away. 
 
 “It was just siren after siren after siren and I live next to the freeway so I'm used to hearing sirens but this was different," Nina Aguilar, a witness, said. 
 
 “It’s very hard because I have children of my own and what if my children were on that bus?" Romero said. "It’s horrible." 
 
 MORE: Family, friends mourn 2 students killed in bus crash 
 
 Two of the three victims were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center. KHOU 11 News spoke to two young men who say they each lost a family member in the crash. One said his cousin was the victim killed at the scene. 
 
 A second says his sister was killed. He said he should have been on the bus with her but he had to be in court this morning. 
 
 PHOTOS: HISD school bus falls from South Loop 
 
 The accident is under investigation by the Houston Police Department, HISD police and the National Transportation Safety Board. 
 
 HPD said there are no charges at this time. 
 
 The bus driver has been with HISD for about three years and has a clean driving record. Records show that the bus last underwent a maintenance inspection in June. 
 
 The bus was purchased new in 2008 and was equipped with lap belts for students. The bus was also equipped with seven security cameras. Footage from those cameras is being reviewed as part of the ongoing investigation. 
 
 HISD has about 950 buses on the road each day, transporting 34,000 students. 
 
 Furr High School Principal Bertie Simmons said that grief counselors are available at the school to help students and staff with Tuesday morning's tragedy. 
 
 "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and the loss of one of our students," said HISD Superintendent Terry Grier. "I ask all of the HISD community to join me in praying for all of those involved." 
 
 Janecia Chatman's family has set up a GoFundMe account to help with funeral expenses. 
 
 VIDEO PLAYLIST: Coverage of the fatal Houston ISD school bus crash 
 
 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH Investigators combing through bus in crash | 00:35 Cameras both inside and outside the bus captured the entire incident. KHOU 1 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH School mourns students killed in bus crash | 02:17 It's a tough day for students and teachers returning to classes at Furr High School and REACH Charter School which share a campus. KHOU 2 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH Family speaks about teen killed in bus crash | 02:15 The family of one of the students killed in Tuesday’s tragic school bus crash is speaking out, including her younger sister. None 3 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH Counselors help grieving students, teachers after fatal bus crash | 01:36 Grief counselors were on hand at Furr High School Tuesday to assist students and teachers after a fatal bus crash taht killed two students None 4 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH Bus drivers react to fatal accident | 01:51 The driver's union president Wretha Thomas says this is the toughest thing she has ever had to face. None 5 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH School bus safety | 04:13 The I-Team takes a look at the safety of school buses. KHOU 6 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH Furr HS reacts to fatal crash | 01:30 KHOU 11's Tim Wetzel reports on student reaction after a fatal school bus crash early Tuesday KHOU 7 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH Family, friends react to 2 students killed in HISD bus crash | 01:22 Two of the three victims from the fatal wreck were taken to Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Medical Center. That's where our Alice Barr who has been speaking with family members. None 8 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH Driver involved in fatal bus crash had clean record | 01:36 KHOU 11's Rucks Russell reports on driver reaction after a fatal school bus crash in SE Houston KHOU 9 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH 2 students killed, 3 hurt in school bus crash | 04:38 Two students were killed and three others were injured when a Houston Independent School District bus flew off the 610 South Loop on Tuesday morning. KHOU 10 of 11 PLAYLIST: COVERAGE OF HISD SCHOOL BUS CRASH 2 students killed in HISD bus crash | 04:53 Two students were killed when an HISD bus flew off the South Loop near Telephone Road Tuesday morning. Two more students and the bus driver were seriously injured. None 11 of 11 Last VideoNext Video Investigators combing through bus in crash 
 
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 Family speaks about teen killed in bus crash 
 
 Counselors help grieving students, teachers after fatal bus crash 
 
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 Furr HS reacts to fatal crash 
 
 Family, friends react to 2 students killed in HISD bus crash 
 
 Driver involved in fatal bus crash had clean record 
 
 2 students killed, 3 hurt in school bus crash 
 
 2 students killed in HISD bus crash 
 
 Read or Share this story: http://on.khou.com/1FcuKFN ||||| WHAT IS HAPPENING AT 10:00, A MAKESHIFT MEMORIAL GROWING FOR TWO STUDENTS KILLED IN AN H.I.S.D. BUS CRASH. MORE MOURNERS STOPPING BY EVERY HOUR. ALSO TONIGHT, FAMILY MEMBERS OF THOSE TWO STUDENTS KILLED SPEAKING OUT, REMEMBERING YOUNG TEENS WHO HAD THEIR WHOLE LIVES AHEAD OF THEM. AS QUESTIONS SQUIRREL -- SWIRL ABOUT THE MOMENTS BEFORE THE CRASH WE HEAR FROM SOMEONE WHO KNOWS THE BUS DRIVER. WHO ELSE HER EX-HUSBAND TOLD US. IT'S BEEN A DIFFICULT DAY FOR THE H.I.S.D. COMMUNITY BUT ALSO FOR ALL PARENTS WHO HAVE A FEAR SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN TO THEIR CHILDREN. TWO STUDENTS WERE KILLED IN THAT TERRIFYING CRASH ON THE SOUTH LOOP AT TELEPHONE ROAD. ONE GIRL FROM FURR HIGH SCHOOL, THE OTHER FROM REACH CHARTER SCHOOL, BOTH SCHOOLS SHARING THE SAME CAMPUS. THREE OTHERS WERE INJURED, TWO STUDENTS AND THE BUS DRIVER. WHILE THE INVESTIGATION INTO THIS CRASH HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN, CHANNEL 2 INVESTIGATES HAS LEARNED THE GUARDRAIL WHERE THE BUS WENT OVER DID NOT MEET CURRENT SAFETY STANDARDS. MORE IN A MOMENT. FIRST WE WANT TO FOCUS ON THE TWO YOUNG VICTIMS. WE ARE LEARNING MORE ABOUT MARIYA ALYSS JOHNSON AND JANECIA CHATMAN FROM THEIR FAMILIES. MARK BOYLE SPENT TIME WITH THE FAMILIES. ONE OF THE FAMILIES TALKING ABOUT LEGAL ACTION. MARIYA ALYSS JOHNSON'S FAMILY HOLDING A PRESS CONFERENCE TALKING ABOUT LEGAL ACTION. THEY TALKED ABOUT THEIR DAUGHTER, HOW SHE WAS EXCITED. SHE WAS A SENIOR AND WANTED TO BE A NURSE. WE TALKED WITH THE OTHER VICTIM'S FAMILY AS WELL. THE INVESTIGATION, THE LEGAL ISSUES ASIDE, TONIGHT THERE ARE SEVERAL FAMILIES ACROSS HOUSTON GRIEVING THE LOSS OF THESE GIRLS,AS WELL AS INVOLVING THIS INVESTIGATION, THEY SAY THERE ARE A LOT OF QUESTIONS GOING FORWARD. 14-YEAR-OLD JANECIA CHATMAN, 17-YEAR-OLD MARIYA ALYSS JOHNSON DIED AFTER THEIR BUS LANDED ON TELEPHONE ROAD THIS MORNING. THE FAMILY IS DEEPLY SADDENED BY THE ACCIDENT THIS MORNING. JANECIA WILL BE MISSED BY ALL. P F THE BUS WAS ON THE WAY TO FURR, WHEN A CAR SWERVED INTO THE BUS. JANECIA HAD JUST STARTED IN 9th AND STUDYING RUSSIAN. SHE HAD A BIG FAMILY, INCLUDING FIVE SIBLINGS. SHE WAS FUN, EXCITED ABOUT STARTING HIGH SCHOOL THIS YEAR. SHE JUST WANTED TO GET INTO SCHOOL, LEARN ALL SHE COULD LEARN TO JUST DO GOOD. Reporter: MARIA'S FAMILY IS BROKEN BUT WANT EVERYONE TO KNOW ABOUT HER. SHE WAS A MOMMA'S BABY AND HER DADDY'S -- MY BIGGEST CRITIC AND BIGGEST FAN. IN ADDITION, THREE OTHERS WERE INJURED, INCLUDING THE DRIVER, AS WELL AS BRANDON AND LAKESHIA WILLIAMS. THEY WERE COUSINS OF 14-YEAR-OLD JANECIA, WHO DIED. THE JOHNSONS SAY THEY WISH H.I.S.D. HAD REACHED OUT PERSONALLY INSTEAD OF RECEIVING THE AUTOMATIC VOICE MAIL THEY GOT ABOUT HER DEATH. TWO STUDENTS WERE KILLED AND TWO STUDENTS AND THEIR BUS DRIVER WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED THIS MORNING. WE DID REACH OUT TO H.I.S.D. ABOUT THAT VOICE MAIL YOU JUST HEARD. HOWEVER, GIVEN THE TIME THIS EVENING AROUND 9:30, WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE SCHOOL DISTRICT. WE WILL REACH OUT AS WELL. THE TWINS ARE STILL HOSPITALIZED AND UNCLEAR WHEN 
 
 HOUSTON - 
 
 Two students were killed and two others and a bus driver were injured Tuesday when a school bus went over the 610 South Loop after being struck by another vehicle, Houston Independent School District officials confirm. 
 
 A Houston ISD teacher was driving a gold Buick LeSabre in the 7200 block of the South Loop shortly after 7 a.m. when she crashed into the bus. The teacher, identified as 29-year-old Nikita Allen, said she believed another vehicle was venturing into her lane and she swerved to try and avoid it, striking the bus. 
 
 The bus, which was heading to Furr High School, had four students on board at the time. 
 
 The bus then crashed through the guardrail, went off the 610 freeway and landed on its side on Telephone Road. 
 
 Martin Anthony was on his way to work when he witnessed the crash. 
 
 "Came off the freeway went about 5 feet into the air. Nose down and when it went nose down it flipped," Anthony said. 
 
 Witnesses ran over to help, but they could not do much because of how the bus landed. 
 
 A piece of the guardrail was seen lying on the ground, dozens of yards away from the overpass. 
 
 A 17-year-old girl died at the scene and 14-year-old girl was transported to Memorial Hermann Hospital, where she later died. 
 
 The 17-year-old girl has been identified as Mariya Alyss Johnson. Her mother, Melody Johnson, said HISD did not reach out to the family and she learned of her daughter's death through an automated voicemail from the school district. 
 
 "A female student was killed and other students on the bus were seriously injured," is what the first recording said at 9:09 a.m. Tuesday. 
 
 The second came in at 10:34 a.m. updating the number of students killed to two. At that time, the families did not know their children were the ones who died in the accident. 
 
 Johnson said her daughter complained that she didn't feel safe with the bus driver behind the wheel. The family's attorney said they will be pursuing legal action. 
 
 "(My mom) rushed in the house saying, 'We gotta go to the hospital,' and she called her sister to see if our cousin was part of the accident," Charles Robinson, Johnson's cousin said. 
 
 He said he found out when he showed up to the hospital Tuesday morning that his cousin was the first teenager to die in the bus crash. 
 
 Family members identified the deceased 14-year-old girl as Janecia Chatman. She was a freshman at Furr High School in east Houston. 
 
 "The family is deeply saddened by the accident this morning," her aunt, Meche Steele, said. "Janecia was fun. Excited about starting school." 
 
 Steele said Janecia was the middle child in her family. 
 
 "My sister is home with the other siblings. We're gonna get through this," she said. "We're asking everyone to keep us in your prayers." 
 
 Furr High is also home to REACH Charter High School. Johnson attended REACH. 
 
 A third female student, a male student and the bus driver, Luisa Pacheco, were also taken to the hospital. The students have been identified as Brandon Williams and Lakeisha Williams. Brandon Williams and Lakeisha Williams are twins and cousins of Janecia, and it is unclear when they will be released from the hospital. 
 
 KPRC 2 was told they suffered severe injuries. 
 
 The Williams siblings attend REACH. 
 
 "We are deeply saddened by this tragedy," HISD superintendent Dr. Terry Grier said. "I ask all of the HISD community to join me in praying for all of those involved." 
 
 The accident is under investigation by Houston ISD Police and the Houston Police Department. The woman who struck the bus was an HISD teacher. She was uninjured and was questioned at the scene and released. Police said no charges have been filed at this time. 
 
 According to HISD, Pacheco has been with HISD for about three years and has a clean driving record. Records show that the bus, purchased new in 2008, last underwent a maintenance inspection in June. 
 
 HISD said the bus is equipped with lap belts for students, but it is unknown if the students were wearing them. 
 
 "Approximately 40 or 50 percent of HISD school buses have lap belts. HISD operates a little more than 1,000 buses daily. Lap belts are optional to wear. Lap belts are optional because it's difficult for bus drivers to enforce," Nathan Graf, HISD transportation general manager, said. 
 
 The bus is also equipped with seven security cameras. Footage from the cameras will be reviewed during the investigation. 
 
 The HISD School Board cut short its meeting Tuesday morning due to the crash. 
 
 "This is a terrible, terrible tragedy. There's a huge sense of loss whenever you lose any child and I can't imagine what those families are going through and our deepest and sincerest condolences and prayers. And we ask that everyone in Houston be in prayer however they choose for those families," Rhonda Skillern-Jones, president of the HISD School Board, said. 
 
 Furr High School has grief counselors on campus Tuesday and will have them on campus again on Wednesday. 
 
 A growing memorial has started to form at the crash site. Many people showing up at the memorial didn't know the students or bus driver, but stopped by to let those involved know they care. 
 
 "No parent wants to lose their child in such a horrible way," Angelica Gomez said. "They're just kids, they were just going to school. They weren't doing anything bad, they were just on their way to school. I'm a mom. I mean, it doesn't matter how old they are, they're always your babies. I just wanted to let them know they're in my prayers." 
 
 The National Transportation and Safety Board will also investigate the crash site. 
 
 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott released a statement Tuesday afternoon that read, "The State of Texas mourns the loss of Texas students today in a tragedy no parent should ever have to experience. Cecilia and I send our thoughts and prayers to the families affected by this heartbreaking incident, and I ask all Texans to support and keep Houston ISD and its community in their thoughts and prayers as they heal from this loss." 
 
 Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick also issued a statement that read, "I am deeply saddened by the fatal school bus accident that claimed the lives of two Houston ISD students today. This tragic incident is a reminder of just how important it is to hug your loved ones and thank our first responders for their public service. Please join me in praying for the victims, their families and the HISD community." 
 
 Joe Weber, the executive director for the Texas Department of Public Transportation issued a statement that read, "On behalf of the Texas Department of Transportation, I'd like to express my deepest sympathies to the families whose children were killed in today's school bus crash. We are deeply saddened by this tragic event, and our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those involved. We also pray for a speedy recovery for those who were injured. Please join us as we keep these Texans in our hearts and prayers during this very difficult time."
– A horrific accident involving a school bus in Houston has left two students dead and two others injured, along with the driver, reports KHOU. The bus plunged off a freeway overpass after being hit by another vehicle, say police. Only the four students—two boys and two girls—and driver were aboard at the time. Both of the girls were killed. The woman driving the car that hit the bus told police that she did so because a car next to her started drifting into her lane. Police think the bus driver then over-corrected and went off the 610 South Loop overpass. The car's driver has been detained but not charged, reports the Houston Chronicle. The bus had been headed to Furr High School, which is also home to REACH Charter High School. Ages of the victims haven't been released.