Church bus in Denham Springs completely destroyed; driver and parishioner released with minor injuries

GONZALES – Officials of a Gonzales church said an accident in Denham Springs totaled one of its buses and injured four people.

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The accident on Tuesday evening in Denham Springs occurred when a bus from Centro de Vida Church was on its way to pick up people for Bible study and was struck by a pickup truck.

“The bus was … completely destroyed when it happened,” said assistant pastor Alexis Luque.

Luque said the bus followed its usual route, picking up church members for an evening Bible study at the Livingston community.

“Every Tuesday we pick up people from the Denham Springs area, we're on duty at 7 p.m.,” Luque said. “Thank God they were on their way to pick people up.”

Luque says only the driver and a church leader were on the bus at the time of the collision.

“We were worried, of course, but we trusted the Lord that they would be OK,” Luque said.

Both were taken to Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center and released Wednesday morning with minor injuries. The condition of the other victims of the accident is unknown.

State police said the driver of the truck was arrested Wednesday on charges of drunken driving and two counts of first-degree reckless assault, as well as other charges. He will be arrested after he is released from the hospital.

In conclusion, the church said it was grateful for the safety of its members and said people who want to help can come forward at any time.