Crash involving church van and truck leaves 13 dead

Thirteen people died and two others injured in a crash involving a church minibus and a truck.

The smash happened as a group from a Baptist church in Texas was on its way back from a retreat on Wednesday at about 12.30pm.

Source claimed that vehicles in the accident appeared to had been involved in a head-on collision.

It occurred about 75 miles (120km) west of San Antonio, on US highway 83, in Uvalde County.

It is not known how many of those who died were travelling in the pick-up truck and how many in the minibus.

All of the occupants of the minibus were 55 or over, police said.

The cause of the crash is also yet to be determined.

Officials at the First Baptist Church, New Braunfels, where the van was based, said members had spent three days at the Alto Frio Baptist Encampment before setting off to return.

The retreat was about nine miles (14km) north of where the crash happened.

Officials were "ministering to family members to help them deal with this tragedy", a statement on the church's website said.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott and his wife, Cecilia, offered their condolences.

"We are saddened by the loss of life and our hearts go out to all those affected," they said in a statement.

"We thank the first responders working on the scene in the wake of this unimaginable tragedy, and ask that all Texans join us in offering their thoughts and prayers."