BARTHOLOMEW COUNTY, Ind. – Indiana State Police (ISP) responded to an accident involving a school bus from the Seymour School Corporation and three other vehicles on Tuesday around 2:40 p.m.
The initial investigation determined that a car being driven by Shanaya N. Brown, 27, of Columbus, was traveling southbound in the 11000 Block of State Road 11, in southern Bartholomew County, and was being followed by an SUV operated by Jack A. Cooper, 71, of Seymour. As Brown slowed down, Cooper swerved into the northbound lane of State Road 11 to avoid Brown’s vehicle and collided nearly head-on with a northbound Jeep being driven by Maria G. Hernandez-Zarate, 56, of Seymour. Cooper’s vehicle also struck Brown’s vehicle.
Hernandez-Zarate’s vehicle then hit the school bus being driven by Daniel R. Ginger, 68, of Seymour, which was traveling southbound on State Road 11, following Cooper’s vehicle. The Seymour Community School Corporation bus had approximately 33 students on board.
Cooper and Hernandez-Zarate were both transported to Columbus Regional Health (CRH) for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. A 17-year-old female student, who was on the bus, was also transported to CRH for treatment of minor injuries.
ISP says State Road 11 was closed for nearly two hours for crash investigation and cleanup.
