Four people on a bus carrying the Abilene Christian football team were taken to a hospital after the bus was struck by a motorist late Saturday night following ACU's loss at Texas Tech. A 19-year-old accused of driving the vehicle that struck the bus was arrested for driving while intoxicated. The driver disregarded the direction of traffic and hit the bus, which in turn collided with a vehicle in another lane, according to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal.
The accident occurred at approximately 11:45 p.m. at the intersection of Marsha Sharp Freeway and University Avenue, which is just around the corner from Texas Tech's Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock. One ACU player, two coaches and the bus driver were taken to the University Medical Center in Lubbock with minor injuries, according to a statement from the Abilene Christian athletic department.
The crash occurred after a 52-51 overtime loss for the Wildcats, who came up just short of a potentially monumental upset. ACU, which competes at the FCS level in the United Athletic Conference, is located 165 miles from Lubbock. The team was slated to complete the roughly 2.5-hour trip by bus.
Official Statement from ACU Department of Athletics #CDT | #GoWildcats pic.twitter.com/6wRIwvvmKT
— ACU Football (@ACUFootball) September 1, 2024
"The thoughts and prayers of Red Raider Nation are with our friends at ACU and those who may have been injured in tonight's accident," said a statement from Texas Tech athletics. "Our administration has been in constant contact with ACU's staff since their departure and will assist wherever needed."
