Mario Perez: New Mexico street racer, 49, slams car into school bus, sends kids flying in TERRIFYING clip
Footage shows the alarming moment when a school bus in Albuquerque, New Mexico, was slammed by a street racing car that caused seven children to be admitted to hospitals, two of which were critically injured. The clip shows 23 middle schoolers chatting on their ride home, with some seated, and others standing when the car slams into the bus.
In a video from February 23, the kids were seen flying from one side to another side of the bus as the vehicle rolled onto its sides. The car driver, Mario Perez, 49, was driving at a speed of 110 miles per hour when he crashed into the passenger side of the bus at around 5 pm.
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Perez was racing a white Mustang on Gibson Boulevard right before the crash happened. The legal speed limit on this street is limited at 40 miles per hour. Officials, police, and authorities are still on the lookout for the other racer who sped away after creating this havoc. On the other hand, Perez was rushed to the University of New Mexico Hospital to treat his broken femur. As per the Albuquerque Police Department, Perez was not under any influence at the time of the accident.
Seven students from George I Sanchez Collaborative Community School were taken to hospitals for medical assistance. As reported by KOB 4, two sustained serious injuries to their legs, including one with a broken femur, and 13-year-old Lula Maldanado suffered a pelvic fracture that required surgery.
Maldanado's family informed that the surgery was successful, however, they were still worried about the psychological impact the accident may have on the victims. Alfred Lucero, Lula's grandfather said, "These kids are going to go through this trauma for a while because every time they get on the bus they're going to remember what happened. It's something that stays with them for a while."
The driver of the school bus also suffered injuries. He told the police, "They were racing. There were two, a white car and the Mustang that's there, all damaged. They were speeding on each lane. And the guy didn't have anywhere to go - so when I was across, this guy was beating him so he just went straight into me."
Perez, who has been charged with two counts of reckless driving and carries upto six years in prison, appeared in court on April 3 in a wheelchair and braces on each leg.