SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

NTSB Still Seeking Probable Cause in Indiana School Bus Crash

The National Transportation Safety Board releases a preliminary report on a school bus crash in October that killed three students and injured one other.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
February 7, 2019
NTSB Still Seeking Probable Cause in Indiana School Bus Crash

The NTSB released a preliminary report on the Indiana school bus crash that killed three students, but has not identified a probable cause yet. Shown here is the school bus involved in the crash. Photo courtesy Indiana State Police

2 min to read


The NTSB released a preliminary report on the Indiana school bus crash that killed three students, but has not identified a probable cause yet. Shown here is the school bus involved in the crash. Photo courtesy Indiana State Police

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on Wednesday with a few more details on the school bus crash in Indiana that killed three students and injured one other, but has not identified a probable cause yet.

“All aspects of the Rochester, Indiana, crash remain under investigation as the NTSB focuses on determining the probable cause, with the intent of issuing safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes,” the NTSB said in the preliminary report.

The majority of the information in the preliminary report has already been released by investigators. On Oct. 30 at about 7:12 a.m., a 2014 Thomas Built Buses school bus was headed northbound on State Road 25 in Rochester, Indiana, and stopped to pick up students at the designated location. It was then that a 2017 Toyota pickup truck traveling southbound hit four students who were crossing the road in the dark, according to the preliminary report.

A 9-year-old girl and two 6-year-old boys were killed. An 11-year-old boy was taken by air ambulance to a medical facility to be treated for his injuries, according to the report. It was previously reported that the children were siblings.

The bus driver had deployed the bus’s warning lights and stop arm. The road is a two-lane highway at this location, and has a posted speed limit of 55 miles per hour. Two warning signs, one that says “Watch for School Bus” and another that reads “Left Curve” are posted for the road’s southbound traffic, the preliminary report notes. There is no lighting at the road at this location. A mobile home park is located to the west of the road.

The NTSB is still collecting information from the Tippecanoe Valley School Corp. on its student transportation policies, bus route planning, and safety issues related to students loading and unloading on high-speed roadways, according to the preliminary report.

To support this investigation, the agency is also investigating two additional crashes that involved school bus loading and unloading: one in Georgia, and the other in Mississippi.

The NTSB’s preliminary report is available here.

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Read More →
Graphic for a School Bus Fleet news story featuring the NASDPTS logo, a speaker presenting with a microphone, and the headline, "38.4 Million Stop-Arm Violations," highlighting annual illegal school bus passing estimates.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettJuly 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Read More →
Graphic illustrating a fatal school bus incident in New York, featuring a close-up view of the front of a yellow school bus with a cracked-glass overlay and the headline, "7-Year-Old Fatally Struck in New York," dated July 9, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJune 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

Read More →
zonar system image
SponsoredJune 22, 2026

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a new Pro-Vision AI camera system. The image shows a monitor displaying camera views with AI object detection overlays, along with multiple cameras and recording hardware. Text reads "New Product," "Pro-Vision," and "Visibly Better." School Bus Fleet logo appears in the lower-right corner.
SafetyJune 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.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A New York school bus in the street.
Safetyby Elora HaynesJune 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.

Read More →
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.
SafetyJune 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.

Read More →
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."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 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.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Emergency response personnel assist participants evacuating through the rear emergency door of a yellow school bus during a hands-on safety training exercise at Prosper ISD. Smoke fills the bus interior as responders demonstrate emergency evacuation procedures.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMay 21, 2026

Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas

Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.

Read More →