Truck Accident Lawyer News

INDIANAPOLIS, IN – A bus returning from church camp crashed in Indianapolis, IN killing 3 passengers on July 27, 2013. The bus, with 37 people aboard, was returning to the Colonial Hills Baptist Church in Indianapolis and was only about a mile and a half from its destination after a 365 mile return trip. Among the occupants were adults, teenagers and children.

A bus returning from a church camp crashed into a concrete barrier and overturned while making a turn at a high rate of speed, killing 3 passengers in Indianapolis, IN on July 27, 2013. Photo: CNN

The accident happened around 4:15 p.m. on Saturday afternoon, just as the westbound bus was exiting I-465 at Keystone Ave. The bus was attempting to make a left turn at the end of the ramp onto when it struck the concrete barrier dividing Keystone Ave and overturned.

Map shows location of fatal bus accident at the Keystone Ave exit ramp from the westbound I-465 in Indianapolis, IN on July 27, 2013.

The victims who were killed were identified as Chad Phelps, the church’s youth pastor, his wife, Courtney Phelps, who was eight months pregnant at the time and 51 year-old Tonya Weindorf, chaperone at the church camp. Chad and Courtney Phelps were in their mid-20s.

Five passengers had to be extricated by Fire Department Rescue personnel. A total of 19 passengers were injured, one of them critically. All of the injured were transported to local hospitals.

The bus driver, who was also a congregation member, was identified as 68-year-old Dennis Maurer. He told the authorities that the bus’s brakes failed and he wasn’t able to keep the bus from hitting the concrete barrier.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

According to a study by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NTSA) and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), poorly maintained truck brakes are the single greatest factor contributing to truck accidents. More than 29 percent of truck accidents in the study involved brake failure, brakes out of adjustment, worn brake components, or other problems with the truck brakes.

Truck Accident Lawyer News is a truck accident and personal injury blog that publishes up to date truck accident and truck legal news from across the United States. Here you can find information on Indiana truck accident law.

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