Child dead in church bus crash, driver had suspended license
GREENFIELD, Ind. (WISH) – One person died after a church bus from northwest Indiana rolled over on I-70 Tuesday afternoon. Multiple people were also injured.
The driver of the bus, Charles Goodman, 53, was driving the bus on a suspended license and has a warrant out for his arrest for failing to appear in court. Goodman was ejected from the bus and pinned underneath it.
The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-70 near the 107 mile marker, which is in the Greenfield area. Traffic was moving again an hour later.
- PHOTOS | Images from the scene
The group was from St. Jude Family Worship Center in Gary. Greenfield Fire Chief James Roberts said that Jacob Williams, a 6-year-old, was killed in the accident and that his family was on the bus with him.
According to Greenfield officials, six victims were sent to Hancock Regional Hospital. Two adult patients were taken to IU Health Methodist Hospital where they remained in fair condition Wednesday morning. Three pediatric patients were transported to Riley Hospital for Children at IU Health. Wednesday morning, two of them had been treated and released and the third patient remained in good condition.
WISH-TV’s sister staion WDTN reports that the bus was headed to a youth revival at the Greater Works Christian Center in Dayton, Ohio.
“It was just disheartening the information I received,” said Dr. Terry Glenn with Greater Works Christian Center. “Our church family will be praying with them. Our hearts go out to them. We need the community to come together and pray for them as well.”
This is the second year Greater Works Christian Center has hosted the conference. Groups come from Indianapolis, Chicago, and Atlanta for the week-long conference.
Organizers will continue the event as planned but are keeping the victims of the crash in their prayers.
“We’re deeply saddened by this tragedy but we know that God is able and that God will strengthen our church family and strengthen us during this convention,” said Glenn.
See video from Chopper 8 when it arrived on the scene: