Indianapolis Bus Crash Kills Three, Several Injured
Indianapolis, IN — A bus crashed north of Indianapolis on Saturday afternoon, killing three people and injuring several others. The bus was carrying kids from a local Baptist church at the time of the accident.
Along with three deaths, five passengers were trapped in the overturned bus when emergency crews arrived at the scene. Their conditions are not known at this time.
Officer Michael Hewitt, a city police spokesman, stated that two victims were airlifted from the scene and eight others were driven to local hospitals by ambulance, reports CNN. Another nine were treated and released at the scene of the bus crash.
Four passers-by also stopped to assist in the Indianapolis bus crash before rescue crews arrived. One helped pull the driver from the overturned vehicle. Four helicopters and 12 ambulances also assisted.
The bus was carrying about 40 passengers belonging to Colonial Hills Baptist Church. The Indianapolis Fire Department reported on its Twitter feed that the bus was mostly teens returning from summer camp.
The Associated Press notes that an Indiana Department of Transportation camera showed the bus flipped on one side near an overpass for Interstate 465, which runs in a circle around the state’s capitol. The accident happened near 96th Street and Keystone Avenue, a busy thoroughfare.
Initially, Indianapolis Fire Department spokesman Lieutenant Rita Burris confirmed three fatalities in the bus crash. However, she did not provide details about whether the deceased were children or adults.
The Indy Star later reported that two of the deceased were a husband and wife. While information on the third person wasn’t available, it is believed the third fatality was a teenager. A total of 26 people were taken to area hospitals, including Methodist Hospital, Riley Hospital for Children, St. Vincent Hospital, and Community Hospital North.
One witness, Carol Albright, reported that the bus appeared “out of nowhere” and was “going very fast.” She added, “It hit the median that divides the southbound lanes of Keystone from the ramp to 465, The nose of the bus hit the barricade — it kind of pivoted on the nose of the bus and did a little bit of the twist.”
Sasha Sample, a nurse who arrived at the scene before emergency crews, recalled a scene involving “mass chaos.” Sample helped to stabilize victims and perform triage until EMTs arrived.
Families of passengers on the bus were asked to meet at the church, which was about a mile away from the accident scene. IndyStar reporter Michael Boren reported seeing groups of families holding hands and praying outside the church.
The cause of the Indianapolis bus crash has not been determined.
[Image via Twitter]
