South Dearborn Superintendent Thanks First Responders In Bus Crash Statement

Read Superintendent Eric Lows' statement on Wednesday's bus crash.

An aerial photo of the bus crash scene on State Road 350 in Dearborn County on Wednesday, March 6. Photo provided.

(Aurora, Ind.) - South Dearborn Community School Corporation’s superintendent has released a new statement about Wednesday’s school bus crash which sent nearly two dozen people to the hospital.

Eric Lows thanks all police, first responders, and Highpoint Health for the work they did following the bus crash on State Road 350.

Lows says the investigation into the wreck is ongoing, and no further statements will be issued until that investigation has been concluded.

Indiana State Police are leading the investigation. Troopers have not indicated what caused the bus to collide with the rear of a stopped garbage truck, but they do not believe drugs or alcohol are factors.

Read the full statement from Superintendent Lows below:

     Yesterday, shortly before 8:00 am, the Indiana State Police responded to a two-vehicle crash on State Road 350 in Aurora, Indiana between a school bus and trash truck.   Over twenty people that were involved in the crash were sent to local hospitals with injuries. 

     The initial investigation by the Indiana State Police suggested that a 2018 Mack trash truck (owned by Rumpke), was parked on the edge of the eastbound lane while trash was being removed from a residence.  A Thomas school bus (owned by Michael L. Hostetler but contracted with the South Dearborn School Corporation), being operated by Raymond W. Nies, age 64, Moores Hill, Indiana, was traveling eastbound on State Road 350, approaching the trash truck.

     The school bus collided with the rear of the trash truck and both vehicles came to rest in the eastbound lane of State Road 350. The Rumpke employee, who was standing outside of his vehicle, was struck by debris and sustained non-life threatening injuries.   Both Nies and the Rumpke employee were transported to Highpoint Health in Dearborn County, Indiana for treatment.  Nies was later transferred to University of Cincinnati Hospital for further treatment.  Furthermore, a 13 year old male student was initially entrapped in the bus.  He was later freed from the wreckage and was transported to Highpoint Health before being transferred to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital with serious, but non-life threatening injuries.

     At this time the situation is ongoing and no further statements will be issued until the conclusion of the investigation.  I would like to thank all law enforcement officials, first responders, and Highpoint Health for their care and attention during this situation. 

Eric Lows

Superintendent

South Dearborn Community School Corporation 

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