Dozens hurt when bus tips over on I-65

By TOM COYNE, Associated Press Writer

Tools

Dozens of passengers were injured when this Greyhound bus crashed on Interstate 65 about 15 miles south of Gary

Dozens of passengers were injured when this Greyhound bus crashed on Interstate 65 about 15 miles south of Gary on Tuesday, June 3, 2008. (Photo provided)

By Tiffany Griffin

CROWN POINT, Ind. (AP) — A Greyhound bus carrying 42 people tipped over as it drove down a northwestern Indiana interstate Tuesday, injuring more than two dozen aboard, officials said. Police said the driver probably fell asleep.

None of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening, police said. About 25 passengers were being treated at two hospitals and more were taken to a third, with the most serious injuries being cuts and bruises, police and hospital officials said.

State Police Sgt. Ann Wojas said driver Darren P. Duke, 46, of Indianapolis likely fell asleep at the wheel of the bus as it traveled south on Interstate 65 about 15 miles south of Gary. Duke, who was not injured, told investigators that he began his day in Indianapolis about 2:30 a.m. Eastern time, drove to Chicago and was on a return trip about 7½ hours later when the crash happened on the clear, dry roadway.

"He must have fallen asleep or something," said passenger Deborah Booth, 50, of Chicago as she left St. Anthony Medical Center in Crown Point. "We swerved off the road and he got back on the road. When he got back on the road we thought he had control of the bus and it just flipped over, all the way over. It was terrifying. Oh my God."

Passenger Tara Robinson, 18, of Hobart said she was talking on the phone with a friend when the bus started swerving.

"All of a sudden I heard screaming. I looked up and the bus was out of control. Then all of a sudden we flipped. It was crazy," she said.

The bus ended up on its right side, with its wheels against the concrete barriers in the highway's median.

"Everyone was screaming, there was blood everywhere and broken glass," Robinson said.

The crash caused police to close all southbound lanes of the interstate for several hours, with northbound lanes remaining open.

Booth and Robinson said passengers helped each other get out of the bus before emergency personnel arrived.

"Everybody just came together and helped one another. It was beautiful," Booth said.

Greyhound spokesman Dustin Clark said Duke has driven for the line for about 18 years, had a good driving record and did not exceed his federal limit of 10 hours behind the wheel within a 15-hour workday.

More Good Stuff

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 58.3
°
More Weather
More On Demand

Stock Quotes

YouNews

This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
60 Minutes
8.00
The Amazing Race 15
9.00
Three Rivers
10.00
Cold Case
11.00
WSBT News
11.30
Paid Programming

Question of The Day

Will the new health recommendations for women change your health screening habits?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5.

  • YES
  • NO
Today's Mortgage Rates