Truck Driver in Deadly Hays CISD Bus Crash Eligible for Parole

Community members urge public to oppose potential early release of driver serving 18-year sentence.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 1:50am

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A 44-year-old truck driver serving an 18-year sentence for a deadly 2024 crash involving a Hays CISD school bus is set to become eligible for parole next month, prompting renewed pushback from the local community. Jerry Hernandez was sentenced in 2025 after pleading guilty to two counts of manslaughter, but some victims' families and school officials are now calling for his parole to be denied.

Why it matters

The 2024 crash was one of the most devastating incidents in recent years for the Hays school district, leaving lasting trauma for students, staff, and families across Central Texas. The potential early release of the driver responsible has reignited the community's grief and demands for accountability.

The details

Hernandez was driving a concrete truck on Texas Highway 21 in March 2024 when he veered into oncoming traffic and struck a Hays CISD school bus carrying 44 pre-kindergarten students and 11 adults returning from a field trip. The crash caused the bus to flip, killing 5-year-old Hays CISD student Ulises Montoya Rodriguez and 33-year-old University of Texas graduate student Ryan Wallace, who was driving behind the bus. As part of a plea deal, Hernandez received 18 years in prison, but is now set to become eligible for parole on April 19, 2026.

  • Hernandez was sentenced in September 2025.
  • Hernandez's parole eligibility date is April 19, 2026.
  • Hernandez's projected release date is March 22, 2042.

The players

Jerry Hernandez

A 44-year-old truck driver who is serving an 18-year sentence for a deadly 2024 crash involving a Hays CISD school bus.

Ulises Montoya Rodriguez

A 5-year-old student at Tom Green Elementary School who was killed in the 2024 crash.

Ryan Wallace

A 33-year-old University of Texas graduate student who was driving behind the bus and was also killed in the 2024 crash.

Courtney Runkle

A Hays CISD school board member who has called on residents to submit input to the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles opposing Hernandez's potential release.

Jason Feltoon

An attorney representing victims and their families, who criticized the possibility of Hernandez's early release.

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What they’re saying

“Just two years into Jerry Hernandez's 18-year sentence, there is an attempt to return this individual to the community. We demand that it be denied. There is no parole from grief, no early release from the trauma these children carry every single day, and there is no argument that justifies walking away from this sentence. Early parole doesn't just fail these families; it tells the public that the court's judgment can be bargained away.”

— Jason Feltoon, Attorney representing victims and their families

What’s next

The Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles will consider Hernandez's parole eligibility and make a decision on whether to grant his release.

The takeaway

This case highlights the lasting impact of tragic incidents on local communities, and the challenges of balancing justice, accountability, and the possibility of rehabilitation. The debate over Hernandez's potential parole reflects the complex emotions and difficult decisions involved when dealing with such devastating events.