Accident injures child getting on bus

CLAY COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - A Clay County, Indiana student was injured in an accident while boarding a school bus Tuesday morning, school officials reported.

The accident occurred on State Road 59, just north of County Road 1300 N. Indiana State Police say Logan Parr, 15, of Brazil, was attempting to cross the highway to get on the bus, when he was hit by a truck driven by Mark Merrill, 22, of Terre Haute. The school bus stop arm was displayed.

Merrill was taken to the Clay County Jail on one count of Criminal Recklessness with a vehicle and one count of Reckless Driving (Passing a School Bus Stop Arm and Causing Bodily Injury). Bond was set at $5000.

Parr was taken to St. Vincent Clay Hospital in Brazil for treatment of possible broken left leg and several cuts and scrapes.

Another bus was sent to the scene to finish picking up and dropping off students.

An ISP trooper inspected the bus at the scene and says it was in full compliance of the law.

School officials said they often see drivers ignore stop arms and red lights on busses.

"We see it probably every day," said Frank Misner, director of transportation for Clay Community Schools. "It's just hard to catch them doing it."

Misner said it is important that drivers pay attention to and follow stop signs on busses, particularly given the risks to children. 

"Be conscious of the big yellow bus out there. There not hard to see," Misner said.