The Gary church bus involved in a fatal crash near Indianapolis did not have the required federal registration needed for its planned out-of-state trip, the Indiana State Police said Wednesday.
The 15-passenger bus was subject to U.S. Department of Transportation regulations because of its trip to what a church member said was a youth convention in Ohio, but lacked a required registration number with that federal agency, authorities said.
The Rev. Lois Hill disputed that the vehicle needed a DOT number.
“It’s all registered. It’s all legal — that’s why I wanted my paperwork. It’s all legal,” she told WISH-TV on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the St. Jude Family Worship Center was empty and locked up early Wednesday afternoon.
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Hill chose to stay with the group in central Indiana in order to make her way to the retreat in Dayton, Ohio, church members said.
“That’s what the bishop teaches: If we don’t continue to move ahead, the devil wins. The enemy has won if it interferes with our mission,” said Vicki Davis, president of Internet and technology for the Gary church. “It’s going to be a challenge, but we need to just pray for the survivors and encourage the children in their faith.”
Jacob Williams, of Gary, was killed in the crash, and seven people, including driver Charles Goodman, 53, of Gary, were admitted to Indianapolis-area hospitals Tuesday afternoon, police said. Area hospitals, however, reported receiving 11 patients.
A second woman, who declined to be named, stopped at the church at 4201 Broadway St. to see if anyone was there whom she could help. She said it was a sad, trying time for the church.
“We’re going to need a lot of praying,” the woman said.
The crash occurred along Interstate 70, about 20 miles east of Indianapolis. The state police said seven people were injured, but area hospitals reported receiving 11 patients.
Two children injured in the crash had been released from Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis, but one child remained hospitalized there in good condition, Indiana University Health spokesman Gene Ford said Wednesday. Two adults who were injured were listed in fair condition at IU Health Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis.
State police had said Tuesday that there was no evidence of mechanical failure with the bus and that preliminary indications were that “this crash appears to be a result of driver error” but did not provide further details about what caused the bus to overturn.
Goodman has no record of ever having a driver’s license in Indiana, court records show. He was wanted on an arrest warrant out of Lake County for failing to appear in court for a traffic offense, police said.
Hill said she did not know about Goodman’s driving record. “I have nothing to say about that because that was not indicated to me,” she said.
Police said Wednesday that the investigation could take several weeks or longer to complete. The bus, a 1999 Ford F-450 Econoline, was inspected Wednesday.
“Once complete, the crash investigation will be forwarded to the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office for review and further action as deemed appropriate by that office,” the state police statement said.
Michelle L. Quinn is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
The Associated Press contributed.