Authorities in West Texas said a prison bus slid off a roadway, down an embankment and ultimately collided with a train killing 10 people and injuring five others on the bus.
The Associated Press reported that the accident with the Union Pacific train happened around 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning. The deceased included eight prisoners and two correctional officers. In addition, four other prisoners and another officer were injured and transported to a local hospital.
"It's as bad as you can imagine," Odessa Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Kavin Tinney told a local newspaper. "In 32 years, it's as bad as anything I've seen."
Officials said that the road the bus was traveling on at the time was icy and none of the prisoners were wearing safety belts, they were handcuffed together.
BBC News noted that Executive Director of the Texas Criminal Justice Department Brad Livingston, released the following statement.
"It's with a heavy heart that we mourn the loss of those killed and injured this morning in a tragic accident," he said. "Their loved ones will be in our thoughts and prayers."
The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the crash.