Loading...
Loading...
Click here if you don’t see subscription options
Associated PressJune 24, 2019
This Sunday, June 23, 2019 photo, provided by the Colorado State Patrol shows a charter bus involved in a crash along Interstate 25 north of Pueblo, Colo., that killed 2 people and injured at least 13. (Sgt. Blake White/Colorado State Patrol via AP)

PUEBLO, Colo. (AP) — Authorities on Monday were trying to determine what caused a bus carrying a New Mexico high school church group home from a weekend retreat in Denver to veer off the highway and crash, killing two people and injuring at least 13 others.

Investigators were looking into the possibility the driver had a medical issue that may have contributed to the crash Sunday along Interstate 25 near Pueblo, State Patrol Sgt. Blake White said. The driver is one of those who died, so the coroner will make that determination.

Authorities have yet to release the names of the dead or the other passengers, which included 10 children.

At least one person was hospitalized in critical condition at Pueblo's Parkview Medical Center, nursing supervisor Kristina Wolf said. Others were being treated at hospitals in Pueblo and Colorado Springs.

The group belonged to the Roman Catholic parish based at the University of New Mexico. Church officials in New Mexico and Colorado confirmed that the group from Albuquerque had attended a retreat for 2,500 young people from 12 states in Denver and were returning home when the crash happened.

The Archdiocese of Santa Fe has scheduled a special mass Wednesday led by Archbishop John Wester. The archdiocese and other religious groups have put out pleas for prayers via social media.

"Please pray, pray, pray," the archdiocese's group of seminarians posted late Sunday.

The Denver archdiocese issued a statement Monday offering prayers and deepest condolences to the victims, their families and their friends.

The bus struck a bridge embankment and veered off the highway. The front end of the bus was destroyed.

Three medical helicopters and dozens of ambulances and fire crews responded. There were extensive traffic backups in both directions as authorities treated the wounded.

Comments are automatically closed two weeks after an article's initial publication. See our comments policy for more.

The latest from america

Many aspects of Pope Francis’ remarkable program of ecclesial renewal weare prefigured in Hans Urs von Balthasar’s vision for the church.
Travis LaCouterJune 27, 2025
Elio, voiced by Yonas Kibreab, and Glordon, voiced by Remy Edgerly, appear in the animated movie “Elio” (OSV News/Disney/Pixar).
Pixar’s best films understand that kids are capable of profound emotional intelligence. As they try to regain their former success, I think that is what they should focus on.
John DoughertyJune 27, 2025
Sister Camille D’Arienzo “didn’t toe the line. She said what she believed. She is a progressive woman who had a very big pulpit, which was over three million listeners a week.”
June 27, 2025
David Foster Wallace gave a reading for Booksmith at All Saints Church in 2006 (Wikimedia commons).
Twenty years ago, David Foster Wallace delivered one of the most widely shared and admired graduation speeches of all time. It still rewards close analysis.
Michael O’ConnellJune 27, 2025