One of the girls - 11-year-old Isabelle Tezsla - died in the crash. Her sisters, 11-year-old Sophie and 11-year-old Natalie, remain hospitalized. Sophie is in critical condition while Natalie is in stable condition.
Their father is a New Jersey State Trooper, Sgt. Anthony Tezsla.
In the statement, the Tezsla family said:
"There are no words to express the gratitude and appreciation that we have for the kindness and professionalism that our rescue workers, doctors and nurses have shown our girls. In addition, the outpouring of love and support that we have received, in particular from everyone in our community and the surrounding communities, has touched us profoundly. We thank you for your continued prayers for our Isabelle, Sophie and Natalie."
Another boy who was injured in the crash, 11-year-old Jonathan Zdybel, remained in critical condition.
The students on the bus were heading to Chesterfield Elementary school. The school opened for the first time on Tuesday after being closed since Friday for the President's Day holiday.
The crash happened around 8:05 a.m. Thursday. A total of 17 students were injured when a bus carrying Chesterfield Elementary School students was hit by a dump truck at the intersection of Bordentown Chesterfield Road (Route 528) and Old York Road in Chesterfield Township.
The dump truck driver was identified as Michael Caporale, 38, from New Egypt, New Jersey. The school bus driver is identified as John Tieman, 66, from Beverly, New Jersey.
There have been no charges filed at this time as the investigation continues.
The National Transportation Safety Board announced on Friday that it was conducting an investigation into the crash.
