A Gary student and a bus driver suffered injuries Wednesday morning following a crash with a SUV on West 15th Avenue and Richard Gordon Hatcher Boulevard.
Gary police said a bus carrying the Gary Community School Corp. students was traveling westbound at 7:45 a.m. on West 15th Avenue and stopped at a red signal light at the intersection. The bus driver told police the bus began moving forward into the intersection “due to an apparent braking problem.”
Police said the driver attempted to stop the bus, but it continued to roll into the intersection and was struck by a southbound Toyota SUV, resulting in damage to both vehicles.
Police said there were about 26 students aboard the bus and one juvenile was transported to Northlake Methodist Hospitals for treatment of an ankle injury. The bus driver was also transported to Northlake Methodist for further evaluation of injuries. The unidentified driver of the Toyota reported leg pain but declined medical treatment at the scene.
Gary Community School Corp. spokeswoman Chelsea Whittington said Wednesday afternoon the bus was en route to Gary Middle School and students were safely transported to school after the accident.
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She said parents of students on the bus were also notified.
Whittington said First Student owns and maintains the buses and hires drivers.
“At the Gary Community School Corporation, the safety and well-being of our students remains our top priority,” she said.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.