Hospital releases students from school bus crash

Superintendent Chris Sampson said all students were released from local hospitals as of 3 p.m.

The bus involved was Clinton Prairie Schools No. 5. The crash happened at about 8 a.m. at Clinton County Road 450 West and Manson-Colfax Road, emergency officials said. There were no other vehicles involved in the crash. Emergency officials said the driver lost control for an unknown reason and the bus rolled completely once, coming to rest on its side.

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Sampson, the administrator for the school system, said 27 students were on the bus that crashed. Nearly everyone was taken to the hospital, though the worst injury was a broken arm.

"Your stomach turns flip flops turns inside out. Then the adrenaline kicks in you go into action," said Sampson.

The bus was carrying students in kindergarten through 10th grade.

Once the bus came to a rest, the students and driver began to evacuate, helping one another out.

"Our older students carried students out the back we had a parent show up and hold the door up as the students were carried out the back," said Sampson.

Parents of students also turned up as word spread quickly.

"It makes you nervous. I ran over, found out where the kids were at where the boys were at. Once you saw the kids, you felt a little bit better," said father of two students Shannon Riley.

Investigators interviewed the bus driver, who was a first year substitute driver. The trip was her sixth trip driving by herself.

Investigators also drew blood for testing which is standard protocol anytime a school bus is involved in an accident.

Officials said the cause of the accident remains under investigation. Indiana State Police do have video from inside the bus.

Investigators are looking at the mechanics of the bus to see if there were any problems.