OWEN COUNTY, Ind. — One person is dead and 10 people — including nine students — were taken to the hospital after a school bus was involved in a crash in Owen County.
The crash happened shortly before 4 p.m. on State Road 67, just north of Gosport.
Indiana State Police say a preliminary investigation shows that a school bus transporting 12 students was traveling northbound on SR 67 approaching Culross Road when the bus driver had to make evasive maneuvers to avoid a southbound passenger car that was driving erratically and had entered the northbound lane. The bus driver tried to steer the bus onto the shoulder when it was struck head-on by the car.
State police say the driver of the passenger car died from their injuries, and nine students were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.
Spencer-Owen Community Schools said the bus driver was taken to the hospital by family.
The school district says staff immediately began calling the families of the children who were involved in the crash.
“Superintendent Andy Cline commends the bus driver for their actions immediately following the accident during a time of crisis. Counselors will be available at the middle and high school tomorrow for any student that needs assistance,” Spencer-Owen Community Schools said in a release.
ISP says SR 67 was closed until about 8 p.m.
NOTE: Spencer-Owen Community Schools issued a release stating that seven students were medically transported as a result of the accident, with six students going to a Bloomington hospital, and one student was taken to a hospital in Morgan County. This story has been updated to reflect what state police reported.
