4 Students, Motorist Injured in Indiana School Bus Crash

A school bus is carrying 20 students from Union-North United School Corp. when a motorist crashes into the rear end of the bus. Four students on board and the motorist suffer minor injuries.

Sadiah Thompson・Assistant Editor

April 1, 2019

4 Students, Motorist Injured in Indiana School Bus Crash — The school bus was carrying 20 students from Union-North United School Corp. when it was struck from behind by an SUV. Four students on board and the motorist suffered minor injuries. Photo courtesy Indiana State Police

1 min to read

The school bus was carrying 20 students from Union-North United School Corp. when it was struck from behind by an SUV. Four students on board and the motorist suffered minor injuries. Photo courtesy Indiana State Police

LAKEVILLE, Ind. — Four students here suffered minor injuries after a motorist crashed into the rear end of a school bus on Monday morning, police said.

The crash happened around 7:51 a.m. on the eastbound side of Pierce Rd., according to a news release from the Indiana State Police. The Union-North United School Corp. bus, driven by Laura Watts, stopped and picked up students at a bus stop, and as Watts advanced the bus from the stop, it was struck from behind by a Ford Expedition driven by Lee Motz.

Of the 20 students on board the bus, police said four were injured — two 9-year-old boys, a 5-year-old girl, and a 15-year-old girl. All were treated and released for minor injuries. Motz was taken to another hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, according to police.

The crash still remains under investigation, but police said that alcohol or drugs did not appear to be a factor.

Topics:Indiana school bus crash Safety

More Safety

Safety•June 11, 2026

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System

The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.

Safety•by Elora Haynes•June 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.

Safety•June 8, 2026

America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse

Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.

A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•May 29, 2026

School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate

Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.

The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation

Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.