SABINE PASS — Four people riding in a van died Monday afternoon after a collision with a Hotard bus on Highway 87 in Sabine Pass, Texas. The crash occurred at 3000 Gulfway in Port Arthur and was reported around 5 p.m. All of those who died were inside the van.

The Texas Department of Public Safety is working on the crash, which officials described as a major motor vehicle accident involving multiple injuries. DPS Sgt. Shana Clark, who oversees the Beaumont region, confirmed the four deaths in the van.

The Port Arthur Fire Department responded to the scene along with other emergency crews. Life Flight also responded to the scene, and medical crews from Houston traveled to the location to assist.

Some of the injured were in critical condition and were being medically evacuated by helicopter, according to a statement from the City of Port Arthur's public information officer. Emergency personnel asked the public to avoid the area while crews worked to stabilize patients and carry out rescue operations.

It was not immediately clear how many people were aboard the Hotard bus at the time of the collision. It was also not immediately clear how many total patients were injured in the crash. The cause of the collision had not been determined.

The crash drew a large emergency response, with crews from multiple agencies working the scene. The DPS is leading the investigation into the collision, which left multiple patients requiring medical attention. Medical teams evacuated some patients by helicopter to trauma centers.