GALVESTON COUNTY, Texas — A school bus fight Monday between two young female students enrolled at an alternative education program may have ultimately led to one’s tragic death. 

After the girls were separated by the bus driver and moved to opposite ends of the bus, police say one girl, a 13-year-old, deliberately opened the emergency exit at the rear of the vehicle and jumped.

At the time, the bus was traveling approximately 55 mph down I-45. 

“The back door of the bus opened, and then the alarm sounded, which made several of the kids focus their attention toward the back door,” Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset, told KHOU. “They witnessed this 13-year-old young lady jump onto the freeway.”

The teenager was not struck by any other vehicles, but was taken to the University of Texas Medical Branch hospital in Galveston with critical injuries. The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed she passed away on Wednesday.

Six students were on the bus at the time of the incident. Surveillance video shot from inside the bus has not been released, but investigators do not suspect foul play.