Community members remember 13 passengers killed in church bus crash

NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – The members of a church involved in a bus crash in Concan that left 13 passengers dead, one passenger injured and the driver of the pickup that collided into the bus injured were returning home after a few days of fun and worship at a retreat. Members of the community came together to share their memories and remember those who died in the crash.

Here's what we know about fatal church bus crash

Jamie Anderson said he will make as many 20-minute trips as it takes from the senior home he manages in San Marcos to the First Baptist Church in New Braunfels. At least one of the 13 lost in Wednesday’s bus crash lived in Anderson’s community.

“One (person) is so shaken up that she could hardly get to the office to inform us about it,” Anderson said.

Anderson is making sure members of his community can get to the church to grieve.

“There’s a progression to healing and grief is the first part of it,” Anderson said. “The whole city has been devastated.”

“Our priority as a church in these days is to care for our families who lost a loved one in this accident,” said Pastor Brad McLean, with the First Baptist Church.

People from the church said all of the victims were part of the senior adult ministry group within the congregation of 600. Some who died were widowers and others had family members who worshiped at the church, as well.

KSAT 12 reached out to the families of the deceased. Most did not want to give a comment at this time, but one man said he lost his mother.

Names of New Braunfels church bus crash victims released

The annual retreat the church members were returning from consisted of puppet ministries, Bible study, personal testimonies, songs and worship.

“They had said what an incredible three days they had,” McLean said.

Glenn Timmermann did Bible study with Harold Barber every Wednesday morning at 9:30. Both Barber and his wife were killed in the crash.

“He was a devout Christian and a wonderful man,” Timmermann said of his friend.

Comal County Judge Sherman Krause ordered the flags on the county’s property to be lowered to half-staff Wednesday afternoon to honor those who died in the crash.

“Our hearts go out to our friends and neighbors affected by this tragedy,” Krause said in a statement. 

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