School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Motorist Who Spilled Drink Sideswipes School Bus, Causes Rollover

An Indiana motorist loses control of her car after spilling a drink on herself and sideswipes a bus taking a high school basketball team to a game. The bus rolls over and passengers suffer minor injuries.

March 22, 2016
2 min to read


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.”

More Safety

Graphic showing a yellow school bus behind a shattered-glass effect with the text “Multi-Vehicle Crash in FL Takes 2 Lives” and the date October 5, 2026.
Safety•by Staff and News Reports•October 6, 2026

2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash

A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.

Read More →
Close-up of an extended red stop arm with flashing lights on the side of a yellow school bus.
Safety•by Elora Haynes•September 21, 2026

Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts

With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.

Read More →
Graphic showing a yellow school crossing sign and blurred school bus with the headline, “The Back-to-School Traffic Effect.”
Safety•by Amanda Huggett•September 18, 2026

School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction

What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Geotab fleet safety platform showing driver coaching data and video of driving events alongside a Geotab vehicle camera.
Technology•by News/Media Release•September 17, 2026

Geotab Expands Fleet Safety Tools With Video Coaching, Risk Insights

New safety and video capabilities aim to help fleet managers assess risk, support drivers, and take targeted action through video coaching, red-light violation detection, and more.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet’s The Route graphic featuring two people alongside the text, “The Secret to Better Bus Driver Training (It’s Not the Curriculum),” sponsored by IC Bus.
Sponsored•by Amanda Huggett•September 15, 2026

How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program

Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.

Read More →
Graphic showing a yellow school bus behind a shattered-glass effect with the text, “Fatal Accident in a Bus Lot & Students Struck Near Bus Stops, Sept. 8–9, 2026.”
Safety•by Staff and News Reports•September 13, 2026

Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured

Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A female school bus driver in bus driver's seat speaking on radio with an inset of female with headphones looking at two monitors and buses in the background
Safety•September 8, 2026

When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving

From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.

Read More →
Firefighters spray water on a smoking Marietta City Schools school bus during a fire response drill.
Safety•by Amanda Huggett•September 8, 2026

What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help

School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.

Read More →
Graphic promoting Geotab’s new fleet investigation tool, featuring a screenshot of the MyGeotab platform showing an incident timeline, vehicle activity, and mapped route data.
Safety•by News/Media Release•September 1, 2026

Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents

Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Student-created poster titled “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” shows a yellow school bus at a crosswalk, students waiting nearby, and school bus safety reminders about stopping, school zones, safe pickup and drop-off, and buckling up.
Safety•by News/Media Release•August 31, 2026

Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest

Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.

Read More →