Indiana State Police have provided an account of how a school bus overturned on northbound Interstate 465 on the east side of Indianapolis. The updated account was reported by WISH-TV[1] and WRTV[2]. Children were among those hurt. No student is identified here, and this article does not include any child's identity, age, or school.
What state police say happened
According to the Indiana State Police account in those reports, the school bus and an older blue Honda minivan moved into the center lane together near the ramp merge by US 40, also known as East Washington Street. The van then moved left to pass. The bus driver swerved right and struck the rear of an Indiana State Police pickup truck, which slid into the median barrier.
State police believe the van never touched the bus and are seeking its driver as a witness. ISP asked the van's driver to call 317-899-8577. This is the agency's description of the sequence, not a finding of fault. The investigation remains ongoing, and no citations, arrests, or charges have been reported.
What is known about the injuries
The crash happened at about 10 a.m. on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. The bus was carrying 24 students and three adults. The reported injury total differs by outlet: WISH-TV reported 13 people hurt, while WRTV reported 14.
The updated reporting describes one child in serious condition, with seven children and five adults in stable condition. The adults include two troopers and three school staff members. The reports name IU Health Riley, Peyton Manning Children's, Eskenazi, and IU Health Methodist as receiving hospitals. Northbound lanes reopened at 1:22 p.m. WIBC also covered the crash[3].
Initial reports said state police had not explained how the crash happened and described the injuries as non-life-threatening. The updated reporting adds the sequence described by ISP, the search for the van driver, and the report that one child is in serious condition.
What this crash tells families about school bus safety
School buses are among the safest ways for a child to get to school, and rollovers are rare. On an interstate, however, a rollover can put passengers into contact with windows, seat frames, and one another, even when no one is thrown from the vehicle.
The sequence described by ISP also shows why evidence from every nearby driver may matter. A person who was not part of the collision can still have important information about lane positions and vehicle movements. Families can learn more about preserving records after a bus collision from the firm's guide on what to do after a school bus accident in Indiana.
What injured passengers and families can do next
If your child was on a bus involved in a crash, arrange appropriate medical follow-up after release. Keep discharge papers and follow-up records together, and ask for the crash report number. A report is easier to request when you have that number, although a police report does not determine civil liability. The firm's guide explains how to obtain an Indiana crash report.
Write down what your child remembers while it is fresh, using the child's own words. Keep messages or notices sent by the school district. Be cautious about signing paperwork from an insurer or government entity before you understand whether it contains a release or statement affecting later rights.
If you saw the crash or were in a nearby vehicle, including the blue minivan sought by investigators, contacting ISP at 317-899-8577 may help investigators develop an accurate account.
Why the Indianapolis location matters
The crash happened on Interstate 465 in Marion County, and Indiana State Police are investigating. An Indiana injury action is ordinarily filed in the county where the injury occurred or where a defendant resides, which may point to the Marion County courts.
The crash involved a public school bus and a state police vehicle, so government claim rules may become important. A claim against a political subdivision, such as a public school district, generally requires written notice within 180 days of the loss under IC 34-13-3-8[4]. A claim against the State of Indiana or a state agency generally requires written notice within 270 days under IC 34-13-3-6[5]. These notice requirements are much shorter than the general filing deadline. A fuller explanation appears in the guide to Indiana government tort claim notices.
Most Indiana personal injury claims must be filed within two years under IC 34-11-2-4[6]. For a person under a legal disability, including a minor, IC 34-11-6-1[7] generally tolls the limitations period until the disability is removed. Families should not assume that this tolling rule extends Tort Claims Act notice periods. Delay can also allow records or other evidence to be lost.
Indiana's comparative fault rule under IC 34-51-2-6[8] generally bars recovery when an injured person's fault is greater than 50 percent. Otherwise, recovery is reduced by that person's percentage of fault. Claims against governmental entities are governed by the Indiana Tort Claims Act rather than the Comparative Fault Act, and any claimant fault can bar recovery. No conclusion about fault should be drawn before the evidence is reviewed.
How Delventhal Law Office can help
Delventhal Law Office, LLC is a personal injury law firm founded by attorney Chad E. Delventhal in 2009. The firm handles Indiana injury claims involving school buses, government vehicles, and multi-vehicle crashes. Chad Delventhal can explain notice requirements, help obtain investigation materials, and review how the deadlines may apply when a child is hurt.
The office is in Fort Wayne and serves families across Indiana. If you or your child was hurt, you can request a free case evaluation. Every case depends on its own facts, and no outcome can be promised.
This post is based on public reporting, the investigation may be ongoing, and nothing here is legal advice or creates an attorney-client relationship.
