SCHOOL BUS CRASH REPORTS 1999

Approximately 70 Hurt When Semi and Two Buses Collided
SULLIVAN, Indiana - October 26, 1999

SULLIVAN, Ind. (AP) -- A semitrailer rig drove into a school bus stopped at a railroad crossing, driving it into a second bus and injuring about 70 people, authorities said today.

At least three people apparently suffered serious injuries, but most of the other suffered only bumps and bruises, said Lt. Mark Hartman of the Indiana State Police.

The Vincennes Lincoln High School buses were carrying about 60 students, most of them in special education in grades 9-12, on an outing to the Children's Museum in Indianapolis, said Tom Mandon, business manager, for Vincennes Community School Corp. 

"We have students injured. There are no fatalities," Mandon said from Vincennes.

The accident occurred about 8 a.m. EST on U.S. 41 about 25 miles south of Terre Haute and 40 miles north of Vincennes.

Police said it was not immediately clear how the accident occurred, but Mandon said the buses, one behind the other, had stopped at a railroad crossing when the truck struck the rear of the second bus, driving it into the first bus.

Television news footage from the scene showed one of the buses lying on its side.

Some of the students were peer tutors, or regular education students that assist in special education classes, Mandon said.

In addition to the students and the drivers, the buses also carried at least two teachers and as many as 10 chaperones, Mandon said.

Hartman, of the state police, said everyone involved in the accident was transported to hospitals.

Sixty to 70 people were taken to Sullivan County Community Hospital near the
accident scene.

Hospital spokeswoman Susan Turpen said one student had multiple broken bones,
but most of the patients would be released after being treated for bumps, scrapes and other minor injuries.

"Actually, it came at the right time. Night shift and day shift were both in, so it wasn't quite as hard," Turpen said.

In addition, the hospital had a mock disaster drill Monday, Turpen said.

Terre Haute Regional Hospital was treating one adult from the crash, a spokeswoman there said.

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