2 die as SUV crosses I-65 median, collides with Greyhound bus in White County
BROOKSTON, Ind. (WISH) — Two people in a sport-utility vehicle died Friday after crossing an I-65 median and hitting a Greyhound bus with about 50 passengers, Indiana State Police said.
The two people who died in the crash were identified as the SUV driver, Dayna Beck, 33, and passenger Nathan Fields, 30. Both are from Kentland.
The crash happened about 12:40 p.m. Friday in White County, a mile north of the exit for Brookston and Fowler.
Sgt. Jeremy Piers said the bus driver and multiple passengers were hurt, but all of the injuries were not believed to be life-threatening. One bus rider was flown to Ascension St. Vincent Hospital-Indianapolis.
The names of the two people killed were not released Friday night pending their identification by the White County coroner, and the notification of the pair’s family.
Piers said in a news release issued Friday night that Joseph Utley, 70, of Valparaiso, was driving a silver 2011 Mazda Miata car southbound on I-65, went from the left lane to the right lane for an unknown reason, and sideswiped a white 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe, the SUV. The Miata ended up in a ditch on the west side of the southbound lanes, and the driver of the Tahoe lost control, traveled across the median and struck the bus in the northbound lanes.
Utley was not hurt in the crash.
The bus, driven by James Jones, 65, of Chicago, hit the passenger side of the Tahoe. Both the bus and the Tahoe ended up in a ditch on the east side of the northbound lanes, Piers said.
Jones was taken to a Lafayette-area hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening.
Greyhound said the bus originated in Louisville, Kentucky, with Chicago as a final destination. Louisville news media reported the bus stopped in Indianapolis before heading toward Chicago.
All lanes of I-65 northbound had reopened by 7:50 p.m.
“We can confirm an incident earlier today near Lafayette, Indiana on I-65 when a vehicle crossed from the southbound side of the highway and hit the Greyhound bus on the northbound lane. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in today’s incident. Our priority is taking care of all the passengers, employees and families affected and we will continue to support local authorities with this matter. We can confirm the Greyhound driver and several passengers have been transported to area hospitals. We are currently in the process of transporting all non-injured passengers from the scene. For more information, please reach out to local authorities.”
Greyhound
