Exclusive: Family of teacher in deadly HISD bus wreck speaks out

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The driver involved in an HISD bus crash that killed two students and injured two others is a teacher at the school district. In an exclusive interview with Eyewitness News, her family says she is heartbroken over the crash.

Officials identified driver of the Buick involved in the accident as 29-year-old Nakita Allen, a seventh and eighth grade teacher at W.S. Holland Middle School in northeast Houston. Police questioned and released her.

PHOTOS: Deadly school bus crash in southeast Houston

"She was crying I said what's the matter she said mom there's been an accident."

Madelyn Allen got the frantic call Tuesday morning from her daughter Nakita Allen. She rushed to the scene to find a mangled school bus, which had plummeted to the road below, and her stunned, distraught daughter.

"I'm telling you is like I'm gonna days now myself over it I'm just so sad for those families because they have lost a great loss," Madelyn Allen said.

Allen was crying and too distraught to talk to Eyewitness News, so her mother spoke for her. They described her as a good Christian girl who loves kids. This was her first year as a teacher at Holland Middle.

Police say Nakita swerved into the bus, trying to avoid another car coming into her lane. When we asked about the deadly wreck, her mom said she said it was all just a horrible accident.

"It wasn't anything done deliberate, it was just an accident. And I'm really sad for the families that lost their children, the injured people, but she's just an emotional wreck right now," Madelyn Allen said.

Madelyn Allen says her daughter put her career on hold to take care of her as she battled cancer. This is her very first teaching job, something she always dreamed of doing.

"She loves children, she's always been a good with children. All the kids in the neighborhood love her. I guess that's why she's taking it so hard, because she wouldn't do anything to hurt anybody. It's just so sad," her mother said.

Allen says her daughter can't stop crying. She has a message for the families of those two students who died in the crash.

"I want to say to the family I'm so sad and hurt by this, and my heart goes out to the families because it's a loss and I'm so sorry for. And it wasn't anything that was planned; it was an accident," she said.

Police also tested Nakita Allen for drugs and alcohol, but found nothing.