01:44 PM CDT on Sunday, April 2, 2006

Associated Press

BEAUMONT -- A 16-year-old girl injured in a bus crash that killed two Beaumont students earlier this week had her left arm amputated after it became infected, officials said.

KHOU-TV

The bus flipped over in the Liberty County town of Devers.

Devin Martindale’s arm was amputated just below the shoulder during surgery Thursday night at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital, family spokeswoman Kristi Fuselier said Friday.

She was one 22 members of Beaumont West Brook High School’s girls soccer team that were aboard the bus. Also on the bus were a coach, a chaperone and the driver.

The accident happened on a rural two-lane stretch of Highway 90 near Devers, about 60 miles northeast of Houston.

Police say the bus was westbound on its way to a soccer game in the Houston area when a pickup truck hauling a flatbed lost its load of plastic insulation. The bus driver swerved to avoid the debris on the wet road and the vehicle flipped onto its side as it skidded into a muddy ditch.

Players Alicia Bonura, 18, a senior, and Ashley Brown, 16, a sophomore, died at the scene.

Martindale was one of six West Brook soccer players who were still in Beaumont hospitals. She was listed in critical condition on Saturday at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital.

“Devin was amazed by how much people cared,” said Fuselier.  “They are making it through this tragedy because of the outpouring.”

Four others were also at the hospital. Lauree Thibaut, 17, and Sarah Babin, 16, were both listed in good condition. Allison Forman, 16, and sophomore Sarah Beach were listed in fair condition.

The condition of Courtney Garrod, 18, at Memorial Hermann Baptist Beaumont Hospital, was not immediately available on Saturday. She previously had been listed in stable condition.

A preliminary report into the accident is expected to be released next week, said C.M. Havard Jr., a Liberty County-based Department of Public Safety patrol sergeant.