Motorist Who Spilled Drink Sideswipes School Bus, Causes Rollover

GRIFFITH, Ind. — A motorist who spilled a drink on herself sideswiped a school bus that was transporting high school basketball team members to a game, causing the bus to roll over and the passengers aboard to suffer minor injuries.

The accident occurred at around noon on Saturday, when motorist Dominique Small lost the lid on her drink and spilled it on herself while driving southbound in the left lane, Courier-Journal reports. A news release from the Indiana State Police stated that Small tried to grab the drink, lost control of her vehicle and sideswiped the bus, which was traveling in the right lane, causing it to drive off the road and roll over, according to the news source. There was no mention of charges in the crash, according to Courier-Journal.

The bus was bringing 21 members of the Griffith High School boys basketball team and six staff members to a semistate game in Lafayette at the time of the crash, according to the news source. A motorist who came upon the crash scene told The Northwest Times that when he arrived, the bus was upside down and people were still trapped inside, and that one of the men aboard the bus had to be extracted by an emergency crew. He added that the other passengers were able to evacuate the bus on their own or with assistance. Police said that everyone aboard the bus was taken to the hospital, but no one had life-threatening injuries.

Students were able to return to class on Monday and the game was rescheduled for Wednesday, according to a Griffith Public Schools press release.

“After seeing and talking to the members of the boys basketball team yesterday and today, I am more convinced than ever that they are mentally and physically ready to play,” Superintendent Peter Morikis said in the release on Monday.

He added that the team, coaches, principals, and administrative staff have been “moved by the outpouring of support from the Griffith community.”