The community of North Hopkins is grieving after an early Monday morning head-on accident that occurred on a curve of State Highway 19 near White Oak Creek. Both the driver of the Hopkins County Special Ed Co-Op School Bus, Perry Evans, 52, of Sulphur Springs and the driver of the white Ford Mustang, Larry Resindez, 33, of Como were pronounced dead at the scene. No children were on the bus at the time of the incident.
According to the reports Resindez, who was traveling north bound, veered into the oncoming lane of traffic striking the bus head-on.
The Special Needs Assistant, Cherrie Bolden, on the bus was transported to CHRISTUS Trinity Mother Francis Hospital in Sulphur Springs. She suffered a wrist and leg injuries.
Justice of the Peace Brad Cummings pronounced the two drivers at 7:25 a.m. following the emergency call at 6:47 a.m. He has ordered an autopsy for both victims as a routine in such incidents. Department of Public Safety officer Allen Hale worked the scene.
Traffic was re-routed as the entire highway was closed to allow emergency personnel and law enforcement to work the scene. Both vehicles have been towed from the scene and the road was cleared at 9:30 a.m. No road construction was present at the scene however the lines have not yet been painted back on the road surface.
North Hopkins ISD Superintendent Dr. Darin Jolly came back early from a Superintendent’s conference when contacted about the accident. He was shocked and saddened by the news. The conference paused to pray for the families of those involved.
“Today has been a very challenging day in our school following the loss of Mr. Perry Evans. It has been consoling to see the teamwork, love, and dedication of our faculty and community through this crisis. We are counseling our staff and students during this time. Additionally, we have had numerous calls, emails and support from leaders of other districts in our area,” said North Hopkins ISD Superintendent Dr. Darin Jolly. “Superintendents in the Region 8 Education Service Center were in a conference meeting when the notification was communicated. The conference paused to pray for the families of those involved. Passionate educators step up every day for students in classrooms for their calling to serve and make a difference in all that they do. Today, everyone has gone the extra mile to encourage each other and love our students and families during this time of loss.”
The Hopkins County Special Education Cooperative extends prayers and condolences to both families who experienced loss today. Based in Sulphur Springs, the Hopkins County Special Education Cooperative serves four rural school districts: North Hopkins ISD, Sulphur Bluff ISD, Saltillo ISD, and Miller Grove ISD.
According to Jolly, Evans was a well known teacher, coach, and administrator in the northeast Texas area for several years in the Sulphur Bluff and Fannindel schools. He had retired before returning this year to education as a teacher and bus driver for the Hopkins County Special Education Cooperative.
“Mr. Evans was a dedicated team player who brought positive energy to our special education classrooms and daily exhibited role model leadership for everyone within his influence. He will be greatly missed, but we are truly thankful for every day that we had him as part of our Hopkins County family,” said Jolly.
Visitation for Perry Evans will be on Wednesday, October 12, 2016 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Tapps Funeral Home. His Funeral Service will be Thursday, October 13, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Sulphur Bluff ISD Gym.