Indiana State Police have located a blue Honda minivan they had been searching for after a school bus crash on Interstate 465 sent students, school staff and two state troopers to hospitals in Indianapolis.
The crash happened Tuesday morning, Sept. 29, on northbound I-465 near Washington Street, south of I-70. A Warren Township school bus carrying 24 fifth-grade students and three adults was involved in the collision with an Indiana State Police pickup truck.
Investigators later determined that a third vehicle, described as an older blue Honda minivan, was also involved in the sequence of events. Police announced Sunday, Oct. 4, that they had located the minivan on Friday, Oct. 2, but investigators still wanted to speak with the driver as they continued working to determine exactly what happened.
According to investigators, the minivan and the school bus were attempting to move into a center lane. The minivan went around the bus, prompting the bus driver to take evasive action. The bus then struck the rear of the state police pickup, sending the police vehicle into the concrete median barrier. The school bus rolled onto its side against the barrier.
Police said they do not believe the minivan actually struck the bus. Investigators nevertheless consider the vehicle an important part of the crash investigation.
The school bus was carrying students from Creston Intermediate Middle School. Everyone on the bus was taken for medical evaluation following the crash, while emergency crews worked to get students and adults safely out of the overturned vehicle.
Three adults and eight children were transported to Indianapolis hospitals with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. One child was initially reported to be in serious condition, while the other seven were described as stable. The two troopers inside the state police pickup were also taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and were later described as stable.
Some students and staff were released from medical care as the school district continued checking on those who remained hospitalized.
The crash was also witnessed by drivers who stopped to help. One motorist, Matt Ramsey, said he was several vehicles behind the collision when he saw the bus roll over. He got out of his car and joined others who were helping students leave the bus.
Some children were brought out through escape hatches on the roof of the bus, Ramsey recalled. He said many of the students appeared frightened and were crying or in shock after the crash.
For Warren Township families, the incident brought an especially difficult day as parents waited for information about their children. District officials said their priority remained the well-being of the students, staff members and families affected by the crash.
In a message to the Warren Township community the following day, Superintendent Dr. Tim Hanson expressed his support for those involved and thanked emergency responders, medical personnel, staff members and members of the public who stopped to help at the scene.
Hanson said the district would continue checking in with families and staff members and working to support their recovery.
The investigation remains ongoing. Authorities are still working to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash and determine the role of each vehicle involved.
All lanes of I-465 in the area were reopened at about 1:15 p.m. on the day of the crash.
With the minivan now located, investigators have another important piece of the incident to examine as they work to establish a complete account of what led to the school bus overturning on the interstate.
