Wanda English Burnett
Editor

Fourteen students from the Jac-Cen-Del School Corporation didn’t make it to school Monday morning, but were instead taken to the Margaret Mary Community Hospital after the bus they were riding on was involved in a crash.

According to information from Sgt. Noel Houze of the Indiana State Police Versailles District, the crash occurred Monday morning about 7:30 a.m. when the bus driven by Dorothy J. Huskey, 60, of Osgood, failed to yield, pulling out into the path of a dump truck.

Huskey is reported to have been traveling westbound on County Road 400 North at the intersection of SR 129 when she pulled out onto SR 129 into the path of a southbound 2005 dump truck being operated by Matthew T. McQueen, 28 of West Harrison.

Police say the dump truck struck the school bus, which caused it to spin 180 degreed where the bus rolled off the east side of SR 129. The dump truck came to rest in the ditch on the west side of SR 129.

Information from the police report shows that both drivers were injured and were transported to Margaret Mary Community Hospital in Batesville. McQueen was treated and released. Huskey was going to be held overnight at the hospital due to possible rib fracture.

Ten students were taken by ambulance to the hospital with minor injuries and were expected to be treated and released on Monday. Four other students who were on the bus were originally believed to be uninjured, but were also taken to the hospital by private vehicles for treatment.

Police say most of the students' injuries were complaints of pain with a couple students requiring stitches for minor lacerations.

The crash remains under investigation. Assisting Sgt. Dan Goris at the scene was Master Trooper James Ponsler and Senior Trooper Chris Clark of the Indiana Sate Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division. Also assisting was Trooper Joe Prather, Ripley County Sheriff’s deputies and Milan Police.

GARY FRANKLIN PHOTO This JCD school bus landed on the opposite side of SR 129 after being involved in a crash on Monday morning with a dump truck, pictured on the other side of the highway. The bus pulled into the path of the dump truck causing it to spin 180 degrees. Fourteen students were injured along with both drivers.