Church bus crashes in Indiana leaving 6-year-old dead and 11 others injured
- The bus carrying 12 passengers from St. Jude Family Worship Center in Gary overturned along Interstate 70
- Driver Charles Goodman, 53, had a suspended license and an arrest warrant for failing to appear in court for traffic offense, police said
- They said accident appeared to be 'result of a driver error'
A six-year-old boy died and 11 people were hurt when their church bus overturned on an interstate near Indianapolis.
The crash on Tuesday appeared to be the result of an error by the driver, police revealed.
The driver, Charles Goodman, 53, of Gary had a suspended license and was wanted on an arrest warrant out of Lake County for failing to appear in court for a traffic offense, officers said in a news release.
He had picked up the passengers from St. Jude Family Worship Center in Gary and was taking them to a youth convention in Dayton, Ohio.
The bus overturned on Interstate 70, about 20 miles east of Indianapolis, according to Indiana State Police.
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The bus that was carrying passengers from St. Jude Family Worship Center lies on its side after the crash
Keisha Hopkins walks away from the scene of the crash along Interstate 70 in Greenfield, Indiana on Tuesday. Indiana State Police Capt. David Bursten says the bus was traveling from northwestern Indiana
Deputy Coroner Tamara Vangundy comforts Aíshia Khan following the church bus crash
The driver Charles Goodman, 53, who had a suspended license and was wanted on an arrest warrant over a traffic offense
The 11-year-old boy was thrown from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene by the Hancock County Coroner, according to the Indy Star.
After the crash, the bus which was carrying 12 people, could be seen off of the side of the interstate near a tree line.
Goodman was pinned underneath the bus but was conscious when he was found. He was transported to an Indianapolis hospital by medical helicopter, according to the release.
Seven people were being treated for non-life-threatening injuries at Hancock Regional Hospital in Greenfield, spokesman Rob Matt said.
Two adults were in fair condition at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and two children were in fair condition at IU Health Riley Hospital for Children also in Indianapolis, spokesman Gene Ford said. Their ages were not available.
Terrance Gardner, who was with the group but traveling in a car behind the bus, told WTHR-TV group was headed to a youth convention in the Dayton, Ohio, area.
'I seen that the bus had flipped over, so I instantly rushed to help as many people as I could, to help anyone if I could,' Gardner said.
'Smoke came up, they quickly put it out, so we proceeded with trying to get as many people out as we could. Everyone made it except one.'
'I don't know what to say, I was just dumbfounded. I don't believe there's no word to describe it,' he added.
Police said in the news release that a preliminary investigation indicates the crash 'appears to be a result of driver error.'
'There is no evidence at this time of any mechanical failure,' the release said. It didn't give further details about what caused the bus to overturn. The six-year-old boy was not immediately identified.
The bus will be inspected by the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Division, it said.
Members of St. Jude Family Worship Center gather at the side of the road after their church bus crashed
Officials stand near the bus following the crash. Police said in a news release that a preliminary investigation indicates the crash 'appears to be a result of driver error'
The bus was carrying 12 people from St. Jude Family Worship Center (shown above) in Gary, Indiana
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