Christopher Bonilla ID’d as Student Killed in Athens School Bus Crash at Cream Level Road and Murchison Street
Athens, Texas (January 26, 2019) – The student who was killed Friday afternoon in a traffic accident involving a school bus that also critically injured a 9-year-old girl in Athens has been identified as Christopher Bonilla, according to police.
The tragic crash occurred at around 4:00 p.m. Friday, January 25 at Cream Level Road.
As per the report, the bus was crossing the tracks at Cream Level Road, where there was no railroad crossing arms when it was struck by a train. The bus was then pushed a quarter of a mile down the tracks near the Murchison St. crossing before coming to a rest.
Authorities said the train sounded its horn for a full 30 seconds before reaching the crossing.  
Bonilla was declared deceased at the scene. Joselyne Torres was trapped on the bus and was extricated by emergency crews. She was then airlifted to Children’s Medical Center in Dallas in critical but stable condition.
The bus driver, a 78-year-old, was also taken to a nearby hospital with unspecified injuries.
The crash remains under investigation.