SAN ANTONIO – A tragic crash in San Antonio left six children critically injured and three other people hurt. San Antonio police believe that the outcome could have been very different if seatbelts had been used.

The accident occurred after 7 p.m. on a Sunday on Interstate 35 near Frost Bank Center Drive, involving a single SUV.

Driver faces child endangerment charges after 6 children ejected in I-35 crash, SAPD says

Reports indicate that there were seven children and two adults in the vehicle, with only one child wearing a seatbelt. Unfortunately, the other six children, aged between 2 and 11, were ejected during the crash.

Officer Nicholas Soliz, a public information officer for SAPD, emphasized the importance of seatbelt usage at the scene. He stated, “I can’t stress it enough. In this situation, I think if those children were wearing a seatbelt, I don’t think they would be ejected.”

A preliminary report released the following morning mentioned that the SUV driver would face charges of endangering a child. However, it did not specify who was driving at the time of the accident, which remains under investigation.

Soliz explained, “According to a witness, that vehicle had a tire blowout. The driver overcorrected, lost control, and hit a tree, leading to the ejection of the children.”

Information from the America Automobile Association (AAA) highlights steps to prevent issues like tire blowouts. Regular tire inspections, proper inflation, tread wear checks, and tire rotations every 5,000-7,000 miles are recommended to maintain tire safety.

After installing new tires, balancing and aligning wheels are crucial to prevent accidents caused by tire issues.