Teen thought dead after text hoax

FISHERS, Ind. (AP) - FISHERS, Ind. (AP) — Many friends and classmates of a suburban Indianapolis teenager thought he was dead until he boarded the school bus following a hoax text message apparently sent by whoever had the teen's missing cellphone.

Fourteen-year-old Michael Sinkfield tells The Indianapolis Star that he found out about his supposed death when some people were crying when got on the bus Monday on his way to Riverside Junior High in Fishers.

Word of Michael's death had spread over social media after a text message Sunday night from someone pretending to be his father said he had died in a car crash.

Classmate Micah Lee says some students were planning to put flowers on his classroom seats.

Michael's mother says the school principal called expressing condolences but later apologized for the mix-up.