8 killed in south Texas charter bus crash, officials say

SAN ANTONIO — At least eight people were killed and 44 others injured when a charter bus crashed Saturday on a highway in south Texas, authorities say.

According to officials in Webb County, the rollover occurred around 1 p.m. about 8 miles north of the Border Patrol checkpoint on Highway 83 in Webb County.

Webb County spokesman Larry Sanchez told the Laredo Morning Times that seven people died at the scene north of Laredo. An eighth person died later at a hospital.

Officials in Webb County say the injured were taken to hospitals in Laredo as well as Dimmit County.

Webb County Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ricardo Rangel says the bus, identified as belonging to OGA Charters, originated in the Rio Grande Valley and was headed to a casino in Eagle Pass, about 125 miles northwest of Laredo. The bus company is based in San Juan in Hidalgo County.

Highway 83 could be closed for as much as eight hours, according to state transportation officials.

Contributing: The Associated Press