SHERIFF: NO CHARGES EXPECTED IN TRAGEDY
A holiday school performance turned tragic Thursday, Dec. 19, when a car struck a black wrought-iron fence, pinning a teacher and young children underneath, injuring five youngsters and killing the school employee.
Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar spoke from the scene outside ExcellEd Montesorri Plus at 27521 Interstate 10 West, where dozens of emergency vehicles swarmed the area surrounding the multi-building campus.
“This is a heartbreaking scene we have out here,” Salazar said.
The chain of events unfolded about 4 p.m. when several parents arrived to pick up their children following the Christmas holiday program.
“One of the parents ... loaded her children into her vehicle,” Salazar said, “and then, for whatever reason, accelerated toward the building, into another car. She, in turn, pushed that other car.”
Both cars, the sheriff said, ended up hitting a fence where, on the other side, several children were playing, supervised by a lone faculty member.
As a result of the downed fence, “several of the children and the faculty member were injured. They were pinned under (there) for some time,” he added.
Firefighters arrived at the scene and used a hydraulic lift to move the vehicles to reach the victims trapped underneath.
The unidentified faculty member, a woman in her 20s, perished at the scene, Salazar said.
Emergency services rushed at least five children to the hospital. Their conditions vary, he said, “but at my last report, all of the children are alive” — negating social media rumors that at least two children had been killed.
They were all very young children, he said, suffering “various stages of injury from grave up to transport for precautionary measures.”
Parents of all the injured children were either at the hospital or had been notified and were en route at the time of the press conference, Salazar said.
No names were released Thursday. The incident happened at the rear of the school’s classroom in Building 6 of the business-medical suites complex just south of the new Lamborghini dealership along the I-10 access road.
“It was at Building 6, away from the main building. Unfortunately, it was that fence and those cars that ended up on those children,” the sheriff said.
ExcellEd posted a message on its Facebook page, asking for grace, patience and prayers.
“It is with profound sadness that we share news of a tragic accident that occurred on our campus today, claiming the life of one of our beloved teachers and injuring several of our students,” the statement began.
“Our hearts go out to the families, friends and loved ones impacted by this unimaginable loss. The Excelled Montessori community is united in grief, and we are committed to providing all the support and resources needed during this difficult time,” the statement added.
Counseling services are being made available to anyone in need, according to the school.
The campus will be closed Friday, Dec. 20, and remain closed until Dec. 30.
Salazar said no charges are expected to be filed, calling it “just a tragic, unfortunate accident.”
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