Adam Huening
Greensburg Daily News
Ripley County —
The morning commute to school took a scary turn for some Ripley County students after their bus collided with an oncoming dump truck, sending a number of them to the hospital.
According to Indiana State Police, bus driver Dorothy J. Huskey, 60, of Osgood was in the middle of her normal route transporting Ripley County students to Jac-Cen-Del schools when she came to the intersection of Ripley County Road 400 North and State Road 129. According to Sgt. Dan Goris of the ISP Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, Huskey failed to yield and pulled the bus loaded with students into the path of a 2005 Sterling dump truck driven by Matthew T. McQueen, 28, of West Harrison, which was headed south.
The vehicles collided in the front, which sent the bus spinning around about 180 degrees in the roadway before rolling off the east side of the road. The dump truck took the force of impact and careened off the west side. Both front ends of the vehicles were heavily damaged.
According to the ISP, both McQueen and Huskey suffered injuries and were transported to Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville. McQueen was treated and released, but Huskey was held overnight for observation due to fractured ribs.
Orginally, 10 students were also transported to MMCH from the scene. Four others were later taken to the hospital by private vehicles, according to the ISP. Most students transported complained of pain, however, some suffered minor lacerations. Students injured on the bus include: Layla Johnson, 8; Lane Wilson, 10; Nathan Austing, 12; Zach Abel, 12; Elizabeth Abel, 12; Kierstin Abel, 15; Randi Bushhorn, 13; Keri Bushhorn, 16; Cody Einhaus, 11; Lane Einhaus, 9; Tray Einhaus, 6; Josh Pohle, 6; Seth Pohle, 9; and Aaron Abbott, 16.
The ISP is currently investigating the crash. Assisting Sgt. Goris was Master Trooper James Ponsler and Senior Trooper Chris Clark of the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. Also assisting was Tpr. Joe Prather, Ripley County SheriffÕs Deputies, and Milan Police.
