A student dies in a school bus accident in Mesquite

One student was killed and several others injured after a Mesquite Independent middle school district bus, carrying 42 children from the Terry Middle School, spilled and caught fire on Wednesday afternoon , officials said.

The accident occurred along Lawson Road, near E. Cartwright Road, about 1.5 km from Horn High School.

"It is with a heavy heart that we must confirm that today we have lost a student," said the president. district wrote in a tweet Wednesday night. "Out of respect for the privacy of this child's family, that's all we'll confirm for the moment."

Seven people were transported to hospitals – three students, three police officers and the bus driver – with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Mesquite police.

Students tell stories of escape after a burning bus crash

A student dies in a school bus accident in Mesquite

The remaining 38 students were taken to Terry Middle School to reunite with their families, the district announced.

School officials said that Mesquite ISD first responders, citizens and employees quickly saved children from the bus on fire. The police were treated for smoke inhalation.

"We know that these citizens have saved many lives tonight and we are deeply moved and grateful for their heroic deeds," said a statement from the district.

The police have not yet determined the cause of the accident.

A student dies in a school bus accident in Mesquite

On the other side of the Texas Sky Ranger, the bus was seen on the passenger side and the police then confirmed that it hit a power line and caught fire. The bus was obviously being consumed when the Texas Sky Ranger arrived overhead. A large part of the engine compartment was destroyed, having been consumed by the flames.

Mesquite school bus catches fire in crash

As the passenger side of the bus was on the ground, those on board apparently escaped through the rear door and the roof hatch, both of which were open.

Donald Hodge, who lives nearby, says the road is a known trouble spot.

"The road goes left then right really fast and it's like right after a bridge," Hodge said.

A Texas Department of Transportation database on Wednesday revealed that 68 road accidents have been reported on the same stretch of road since 2010.

"As a parent, it broke my heart," Cheri Patterson, who had learned the crash after finding four of her children, one of whom is a student of seventh grade at Terry Middle School. "All you want to do is keep your kids in. All you want is to know that they are safe."

On Wednesday afternoon, Dr. David Vroonland, superintendent of Mesquite ISD, posted a statement on Facebook that included:

"Community members, MISD employees and first responders have acted quickly and risked their lives to save these children, we know that these people have saved many lives tonight and we are deeply moved and grateful for their actions. But it is with a very heavy heart that we must confirm that today we have lost a student.For respect for the privacy of the family of this child, that is all we will confirm For now, Dr. Vroonland has been talking privately with the family and we are asking for ongoing prayers for this family in mourning, the Terry Middle School family and our entire MISD community. "

The drivers who had to leave their cars near the scene were then escorted by the police to recover their vehicles.

Lawson Rd. Reopened before dawn on Thursday morning after the teams towed the charred bus.

Matt Jackson, Frank Heinz, Chris Blake, Meredith Yeomans and Allie Spilly of NBC 5 contributed to this report.