Three injured after vehicles collide with Seymour school bus

Scene of a four-vehicle accident in southern Bartholomew County on Tuesday afternoon.

An investigation is continuing into an accident involving a Seymour school bus and three other vehicles.

Indiana State Police were sent to the crash at 2:40 p.m. Tuesday in southern Bartholomew County, said Sgt. Stephen Wheeles, Indiana State Police spokesman.

The investigation by Trooper Matt Holley, Indiana State Police, determined that a 2013 Dodge Dart being driven by Shanaya N. Brown, 27, Columbus, was traveling southbound in the 11000 Block of South State Road 11 in Bartholomew County. Brown’s vehicle was being followed by a 2014 GMC Terrain being driven by Jack A. Cooper, 71, Seymour. Brown slowed due to vehicles slowing in front of her vehicle. Cooper swerved into the northbound lane of State Road 11 to avoid Brown’s vehicle, Wheeles said.

Cooper’s vehicle collided nearly head-on with a northbound 2004 Jeep Liberty being driven by Maria G. Hernandez-Zarate, age 56, Seymour, Wheeles said.

Cooper’s vehicle also collided with Brown’s vehicle after making contact with Hernandez-Zarate’s vehicle, Wheeles said.

Hernandez-Zarate’s vehicle then struck a 2019 Thomas Built school bus being driven by Daniel R. Ginger, 68, Seymour, that was traveling southbound on State Road 11 following Cooper’s vehicle. The Seymour bus had approximately 33 students on the bus at the time of the crash.

Jack Cooper and Maria Hernandez-Zarate were both transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries. A 17 year old female student, who was on the bus, was transported to Columbus Regional Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

State Road 11 was closed for nearly two hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

Trooper Holley was assisted by other troopers with the Indiana State Police-Versailles Post, officers with the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, Wayne Township Fire Department, and Columbus Regional Hospital EMS.