Church-bus crash kills 3, injures 26

Indianapolis group was almost home

INDIANAPOLIS - A bus carrying teenagers returning home from a church camp in Michigan crashed Saturday afternoon about a mile from its destination, killing three people and sending 26 others to hospitals, officials said.

The bus crashed off Interstate 465 in northern Indianapolis, about a mile from the Colonial Hills Baptist Church that passengers attended. It struck a retaining wall as it tried to round a curve and overturned.

“They were not that far from home. … That only adds to the tragedy,” Indianapolis Public Safety Director Troy Riggs said.

The dead included a man and his wife, Indianapolis Fire Department Lt. Ato McTush said. He did not have information about the third victim.

Riggs visited the crash scene with Mayor Greg Ballard before heading to the church. Riggs said there was no indication that the driver had a medical emergency and called the accident “a great tragedy.”

Ballard said investigators were taking measurements and examining the bus to determine the cause of the crash.

WTHR-TV reported the bus driver told witnesses that his brakes failed.

A passer-by, Duane Lloyd, told the TV station that he heard a loud noise behind him as he was traveling near the intersection and saw the crash about 4:15 p.m.

“I heard a skid. I looked back. I see this bus in the air and people falling out of the bus,” Lloyd said. “I could have gone my whole life without seeing that.”

Karen Woodard, a member of Colonial Hills Baptist Church, cried as she stared at the wrecked bus surrounded by pillows, water bottles and clothing. She said the bus was returning from a youth camp in Michigan, and some of the teens had their parents with them.

“It’s so terrible. I can’t believe it,” she said.

The Indianapolis Fire Department said crews had to free five people who were trapped inside after the crash. Four passers-by helped before first responders could arrive, including one man who helped pull the driver out of the bus, the agency said.

“People were stopping their cars. People were literally trying to lift the bus,” Lloyd said. “You just try to do what you can do.”

Fire officials said the bus was carrying 37 passengers and that the injured included children and adults.

Nine teenagers were taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital, including one in critical condition. Three of those were treated and released, hospital spokesman Sally Winter said. She said 10 others, including nine teenagers and a toddler, were taken to Riley Hospital for Children. Seven of those teenagers were treated and released, Winter said.

Many of the patients were suffering head, arm and leg injuries, fire officials said.

Roads near the scene were closed, and authorities were urging people to use caution in the area. A hazardous-materials crew was cleaning up diesel fuel that spilled in the crash.

Outside the church about a mile away, families gathered to hug and talk quietly as parents paced back and forth talking on cellphones. A yellow school bus with the church school’s name was parked outside with piles of sleeping bags and suitcases nearby.

Information for this article was contributed by Tom Murphy of The Associated Press.

Front Section, Pages 5 on 07/28/2013

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