Widow of Ill-Fated Church Bus Driver Found Dead

Authorities found the widow of the man driving the church bus struck by an alleged intoxicated texting driver dead in her home. The crash left 13 members of her church dead, including her husband.

New Braunfels Police Department Spokesman David Ferguson told the San Antonio Express-News that emergency personnel found the body of Dianne Barrett, 55, inside her home. He said there is no indication of foul play.

“She was by herself at the time of her death,” Ferguson added.

Following Dianne’s death on Tuesday, her daughter Jenn posted a grief-filled blog asking why God would take her mother at this time.

She posted:

If mom was going to die, why not just have her on the bus two weeks ago? Why put mom through the pain of grieving the loss of Dad just to have her join him 13 days later? Why put the four of us through planning a second funeral with the ink still wet on our thank you notes from the last one?

And what about the kids? Mom and dad faithfully served for so many years in preteens and Awana. Why put all those kids through the pain of losing Dad … just to rip mom away two weeks later?

God, what are you up to? What are you trying to build in me and what great work do you have for me to do that requires a test of such fire?

Today was a day of tears, and there will no doubt be more to come in the weeks that follow. It was also a day filled with stressful decisions… adult decisions that I never expected to be making at this stage in my life.

Two weeks ago, Dianne’s husband, Murray Barrett, drove the First Baptist Church of New Braunfels’ bus on its return trip from a senior retreat in the Garner State Park area. Barrett and 12 other passengers died in the crash after being struck by a white Dodge truck, allegedly driven by Jack D. Young, 20. A video shot by the passenger of a vehicle following Young showed him weaving into opposite lanes of traffic, nearly striking other vehicles before the fatal crash. The driver of the trailing vehicle attempted to notify police, but they could not respond in time to prevent the collision.

Police believe Young took sleeping pills before driving. Young also reportedly told the driver who had been following him he had been texting at the time of the crash. Police reported they also found five partially consumed marijuana joints in the truck along with two more complete marijuana cigarettes.

Dianne Barrett also worked at the church as a ministry assistant. “We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dianne Barrett. We continue to pray for our Lord’s mercy and comfort for our church family members who continue to grieve,” church officials stated.

Bob Price serves as associate editor and senior political news contributor for Breitbart Texas. He is a founding member of the Breitbart Texas team. Follow him on Twitter @BobPriceBBTX and Facebook.