Bus accident results in minor injuries

Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Greencastle firefighters John McPherson and Christy Glass prepare a student for transportation to Putnam County Hospital following a Monday morning bus accident.

GREENCASTLE -- A bus accident late Monday morning resulted in no substantial damage, but sent 10 North Putnam High School students to the hospital as a precautionary measure.

The accident occurred at 11:33 a.m. on Indianapolis Road near the intersection with Fifth Street. The street was undergoing paving at the time, leaving it open to only one-way traffic.

Shirl Davis was driving a GMC Jimmy westbound, waiting for the flagger. Kyla Dallacosta, driving the school bus owned by North Putnam Schools, was behind the Davis vehicle.

Upon getting the signal to proceed, both vehicles began traveling westbound in the center lane. However, Dallacosta moved to the right lane when she believed Davis was preparing to make a left-hand turn.

Instead, Davis attempted to turn to the right in front of the bus. Dallacosta slowed the bus enough to avoid major damage, but still struck the GMC.

The bus was en route back to North Putnam from Area 30. Ten of the students were transported to Putnam County Hospital either with minor injuries or as a precaution. There appeared to be no major injuries.

Students not transported to PCH were taken back to the high school on another bus.

Responding agencies included Greencastle Police Department, Putnam County Operation Life, Greencastle Fire Department, Indiana State Police and Bainbridge Police Department.

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  • wow, people need to be more careful.

    -- Posted by girlswhocare on Mon, Aug 30, 2010, at 1:58 PM
  • Yes, they do. I'm just glad no body was really hurt. I've seen them buses before and they fly.

    -- Posted by lp_27 on Mon, Aug 30, 2010, at 2:11 PM
  • Is the bus driver ok? Sorry to hear this. Unfortunately accidents happen.

    -- Posted by jakeboy on Mon, Aug 30, 2010, at 2:13 PM
  • lp_27 I am sure they couldnt have been going that fast in this case.

    -- Posted by jakeboy on Mon, Aug 30, 2010, at 2:15 PM
  • Im glad to see everyone is ok. Kyla thought I would say hi... so hi lol

    -- Posted by vblfd912 on Mon, Aug 30, 2010, at 6:35 PM
  • Why did the Bainbridge Police respond to a wreck in Greencastle? I understand that it involved a North Putnam bus, but come on...it was 15 miles away from their jurisidiction.

    -- Posted by purple_heat on Mon, Aug 30, 2010, at 8:50 PM
  • The bus drivers in this county are horrible. two years ago my wife was stopped at a stop sign and a north put. bus was turning in her direction and hit front of our SUV. Its not just the north put. bus drivers. look how many are involved in accidents every year. ranging from Cloverdale all the way to Roachdale.

    -- Posted by ou812 on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 6:53 AM
  • Accidents happen, and that's why they call them accidents. It could happen to any of us. Glad no one was seriously injured. Bus drivers haul a lot of precious cargo and you couldn't pay me enough to do their job!

    -- Posted by joyful heart on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 9:43 AM
  • We were all fine we just all had head and neck injuries. There was 16 of us that went to PCH. The bus driver did a fine job. We weren't going that fast but she did hit the brakes very fast so we were thrown forward fast. One of the students did brake a few ribs. another student is in a neckbrace at home. Our drivers at NPHS are not bad! We have 55 students that ride a bus with 22 sits. we have 3 to every sit.

    -- Posted by swimmer_of_nphs on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 10:39 AM
  • Figured this article would be about someone from Putnam county cutting off a school bus at the Exit 41 ramp, like many do semi-drivers nearly every day of the week. (It's not going to kill you to wait another 5-10 seconds out of your busy lives while a semi drives past your exit.)

    Glad to hear there were no life-threatening injuries.

    -- Posted by Emmes on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 11:58 AM
  • I followed a North Putnam bus northbound on 231 one afternoon last week that was making stops and letting kids off the bus but never once turned on any of the flashing lights or extended the stop arm on the side of the bus. When the bus reached the intersection of 231 and 36 the driver remained stopped at the light even though it was green for 231 traffic and then finally turned east onto 36 when the light changed to yellow. Some of the kids had to cross the highway to get to their homes after getting off of the bus while it is sitting there in the road with no warning lights activated.

    -- Posted by Registered Voter on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 12:18 PM
  • Register Voter why didn't you report this incident?

    -- Posted by jakeboy on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 1:09 PM
  • Joyful heart well said!!!!

    -- Posted by jakeboy on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 1:10 PM
  • No lights and no stop arms seems a little hard to believe.

    -- Posted by floyd'srangerriders on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 1:12 PM
  • on the comment about the 231 and 36 incident with no lights. I did let the driver know that the lights were not working and that driver was unaware of the situation. the drver said thanks for letting them know. maybe instead of commenting about it maybe you should have told them like i did.

    -- Posted by vblfd912 on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 6:30 PM
  • Ok i was one of the students in this accident i threw my back out and have whiplash.. No students broke their hips to who ever said that...... basically all alot of us were complaing about was back and neck pains.. ( WHILASH).. this is one reason why we should have 2 area 30 buses or let us drive to and from area 30. just because of this accident i have missed a day of school so far...

    -- Posted by issamoo on Tue, Aug 31, 2010, at 6:34 PM
  • issamoo its whiplash not WILASH. and I find it hard to believe you have that. Tell me why the bus driver didn't get hurt? Sounds like alot of parents looking for an excuse to sue,kids not going to school or just looking for attention. This is ridiculous.

    -- Posted by jakeboy on Wed, Sep 1, 2010, at 9:22 AM
  • vblfd912; I was 5 or 6 vehicles back in the line of traffic behind the bus, kind of hard to talk with the driver from there but good for you for letting he or she know there was a problem.

    I would have thought that once the driver was aware the warning lights were not working that he or she would stopped in a safe place until a solution to the problem could be made. But what do I know?

    I've never driven a school bus but I find it hard to believe that there isn't some sort of indicator inside the bus as to when or if the warning devices are activated.

    Maybe vblfd912, you could have followed the bus with your blue light flashing to get other motorist attention?

    -- Posted by Registered Voter on Wed, Sep 1, 2010, at 11:30 AM
  • I'm glad that no one was seriously hurt. I do want to say that, it is possible for someone to have whiplash in a situation like this. My daughter had whiplash once, from riding over a bunch of bumps on a big wheel. That's what the ER doctor said it was. It doesn't take much fast, jerky movement to cause this. I hope everyone heals quickly.

    -- Posted by ladycubs on Wed, Sep 1, 2010, at 1:40 PM
  • Register voter you said it YOU have never driven a school bus so why assume anything.

    -- Posted by jakeboy on Wed, Sep 1, 2010, at 3:56 PM
  • Register Voter:::I hope you didnt take it as me being a smarty... i wasnt trying to and if I did im sorry... I would have used my light but state law I can because it wasnt and emergency... but like I said, I let them know asap.. and another thing some of the buses have warning signs inside and some dont... I know for a fact that one doesnt cause I was on the bus and it used to be my bus in school when I was at North Putnam ( GO COUGARS)But like i said cant run the light cause it wouldnt be legal but i took care of it legaly

    -- Posted by vblfd912 on Wed, Sep 1, 2010, at 8:04 PM
  • My niece was on that bus. Thank god she wasn't hurt. Glad it wasn't worse and everyone is okay!

    -- Posted by princessv on Thu, Sep 2, 2010, at 12:35 AM
  • vblfd912 not a problem, it's all good.

    -- Posted by Registered Voter on Thu, Sep 2, 2010, at 3:17 AM
  • JAkeboy you don't know jack so quit acting like it and im sry i typed that wrong i was drowsy from my pain meds.. and if no one is hurt tell me why my bestfriend logan was in the front seat almost got thrown threw the windshield and now has a broken neck...

    -- Posted by issamoo on Tue, Sep 7, 2010, at 10:05 AM
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