Mother killed after jumping in front of a car to save children at Texas elementary school

Daniel Borunda | El Paso Times

Show Caption Hide Caption Mother killed by car after trying to save children at Tippin Elementary school A mother was killed on Monday after jumping in front of three children to prevent them from being hit in the parking lot of Tippin Elementary School

An El Paso mother was killed on Monday after jumping in front of three children to prevent them from being hit in the parking lot of Tippin Elementary School on the West Side.

An elderly man was backing out of a space in Tippin Elementary's parking lot after the first day of school. He hit the accelerator instead of the brakes on his car, an El Paso Independent School District spokesman said.

The woman tried to get in front of the children who were in the car's path. She was hit and died at the scene. Three children, all 7 years old, were taken to the hospital with various injuries.

More: Man, mauled to death by polar bear, hailed as a hero by blocking path to his kids

"She was trying to get in front of the kids," EPISD spokesman Gustavo Reveles said.

The man is in police custody as an investigation continued Monday evening, officials said. Names were not immediately released.

EPISD says counselors will be at Tippin Elementary tomorrow. https://t.co/o0g1ekdman — Daniel Borunda (@BorundaDaniel) August 14, 2018

Parents with young children could be seen leaving the campus as red crime-scene tape and police cars surrounded a parking lot.

A small black barrier was set up block the view of the body in the parking lot. A red car with damage to its side was stopped next to the barrier.

More: 'I deeply care for my students': Noblesville hero teacher speaks after school shooting

Police cars blocked Bear Ridge Drive in front of the school.

An investigation continued Monday evening involving EPISD police and the El Paso police Special Traffic Investigations Unit, which handles fatal accidents.

Monday was the first day of school for the 60,000 students in the El Paso Independent School District.

EPISD officials said that classes will continue as normal on Tuesday with counselors will be available on the Tippin campus.

“On a day that began with such hope and excitement, it is with tremendous sadness that I confirm the tragic loss of one our parents today," Superintendent Juan Cabrera said in a statement. He added, "This is a day you never anticipate and are never prepared for. In times such as these, we are grateful for our community support and will lean on each other for strength. We continue to pray for our students and the families involved.”

Follow Daniel Borunda on Twitter: @BorundaDaniel