DARKE COUNTY — UPDATE @ 10:55 a.m.:
Three people were killed in a three-vehicle crash involving a transport van on Friday morning, Darke County Sheriff Mark Whittaker confirmed.
An initial investigation revealed that a cargo van was going north on State Route 49 when it crossed over the center line and hit a Spirit Medical transport bus.
After hitting the bus, the van hit another car.
The van and car caught fire and were engulfed in flames following the crash.
Two men in the van were not able to get out and died at the scene.
The driver of the bus was flown to an area hospital, where they later died.
Two other people from the bus were transported to a local hospital by medics.
Brian Hathaway, owner of Spirit Medical, confirmed to News Center 7 that the Spirit bus was taking a student with disabilities, along with the student’s aide, to a local school district.
Whittaker said investigators don’t believe that weather was a factor.
INITIAL REPORT:
At least three people were hurt in a crash involving a transport bus in Darke County on Friday morning.
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Deputies and medics responded around 7:25 a.m. to State Route 49 and Pitsburgh-Laura Road on a reported crash, according to a Darke County Sheriff’s dispatcher.
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Initial reports were that at least two vehicles were involved in the crash.
News Center 7’s crew on the scene reports that one of the vehicles is a Spirit Emergency Medical Services transport bus.
News Center 7 spoke with Brian Hathaway, owner of Spirit Medical. He confirmed three people were on the bus at the time of the crash. Two were transported to a nearby hospital by medics, and the driver was flown to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.
We’re working to learn if anyone else was injured.
“My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved,” Hathaway said in a statement to News Center 7.
We have a news crew on the scene and will continue to follow this story.
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