West High School Student Killed in I-35 Crash

KWTX's Chelsea Edwards reported that West ISD is in a state of mourning on Friday. The mourning is in result of the death of Jacob Bates on Thursday night.

The superintendent of West ISD, David Truitt shared the tragic news on the district's Facebook page, that Bates passed away after injuries coming from a wreck on Interstate 35 near Elm Mott.

Truitt said district staff and counselors are available to talk to students as they arrive to school All school events have been canceled for the day including, a baseball scrimmage, pep rally, softball scrimmage, cheer tryouts for middle and high school; and the boys basketball game against McGregor HS.

Truitt also sent out request for the whole West community to have Jacob Bates, his family, teammates, and the whole community in their prayers. Department of Public Safety troopers stated that traffic on Interstate 35 was heavily backed up due to a hazardous waste spill.

People on the scene that witnessed the accident said Bates was speeding and ran into the back of a semi around 8:00 p.m.. Teams had to take him out of his vehicle, and he was taken to a local hospital. He arrived in critical condition, and that's where he would end up passing away.

The crash is still under investigation, and no one else was injured at the scene of the accident.