Cause of Carmel bus crash revealed

CARMEL, Ind. (WISH) - A school bus crashed into a house in Carmel on Wednesday morning when the driver - who was not wearing his seat belt - lost control of the bus after he said he was bounced out of his seat during a rough turn.

Carmel Police Department said the bus, Carmel Clay Schools No. 111, crashed into the garage of a house in the 13000 block of Tarkington Commons. Investigators said the bus was making a left turn from Gray Road onto Main Street when a front tire went off the road. That's when, according to the driver, Jack David Thomas, he was thrown from his seat and lost control of the bus.

The bus then went off the road, crashing through a fence, trees and a play set before hitting the garage. Emergency crews had to free Thomas from the bus. He was taken to an area hospital.

Officials with Carmel Clay Schools said no children were on the bus. School spokesman Tricia Reynolds said the school system will investigate the incident.

"(We'll) figure out what happened and what we can do better so this never happens again," she said.

She said school officials were cooperating with police during the investigation - which Carmel Police said Wednesday evening had been closed.

"Once the investigation is complete and Carmel Clay Schools has all the facts, our human resources department will review the information and proceed from there," Reynolds said.

Reynolds said parents should assume their children will be picked up for school unless they receive a phone call.

24-Hour News 8 Anchor David Barras spoke with the homeowner, who said he was eating cereal when he heard a rumble and felt what was similar to an earthquake.

Fire officials said they were working to stabilize the structure until permanent fixes could be made.