Taylor University accident timeline - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

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Taylor University accident timeline

Laura VanRyn and Whitney Cerak (Photo courtesy of Taylor University)

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Asbestos found in Belmont Ave. fire debris
Asbestos found in Belmont Ave. fire debris
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:33 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:33:16 GMT
Asbestos and pop-up fires are two big concerns as investigators look for a cause of a massive warehouse fire on the Indianapolis southwest side. The fire at 202 S. Belmont Ave. at Nationwide RecyclingMore >>
An independent test conducted by WTHR has found asbestos in some of the debris that fell in Indianapolis neighborhoods during a huge warehouse fire last weekend.More >>
Former Shelbyville teacher acquitted on sex charges with teen
Former Shelbyville teacher acquitted on sex charges with teen
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:28 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:28:29 GMT
A former Shelbyville Middle School teacher has been acquitted on felony charges surrounding accusations of inappropriate relationships with students. Bethany Appleton went on trial this week. AppletonMore >>
A former Shelbyville Middle School teacher has been acquitted on felony charges surrounding accusations of inappropriate relationships with students.More >>
Hinkle's history to remain through renovations
Hinkle's history to remain through renovations
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:19 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:19:44 GMT
The home of Hoosier Hysteria and decades of countless memories is in the middle of a major makeover. Butler University is spending $34 million to modernize Hinkle Fieldhouse without sacrificing that senseMore >>
Butler University is spending $34 million to modernize Hinkle Fieldhouse without sacrificing that sense of history fans expect when they walk through the doors.More >>
Five charged in Marion County auto theft sting
Five charged in Marion County auto theft sting
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:04 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:04:56 GMT
The Marion County prosecutor has announced charges after an undercover auto theft investigation. Four suspects have been arrested for separate thefts, and police are still looking for a fifth suspect. AMore >>
The Marion County prosecutor has announced charges after an undercover auto theft investigation.More >>
Indiana issues ozone alert for southern areas
Indiana issues ozone alert for southern areas
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 4:13 PM EDT2013-06-19 20:13:34 GMT
The Indiana Department of Environmental Management warns high ozone levels in southern Indiana could cause breathing and heart problems for certain people Thursday. The agency is forecasting high ozoneMore >>
The agency is forecasting high ozone levels for the Columbus-Seymour area and the Indiana suburbs of Louisville, Ky.More >>
IMS lights Pagoda in honor of Jason Leffler
IMS lights Pagoda in honor of Jason Leffler
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 4:00 PM EDT2013-06-19 20:00:32 GMT
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is honoring the late Jason Leffler with a tribute atop the iconic Pagoda scoring board. Leffler died last Wednesday in an accident at a dirt track in New Jersey. His funeralMore >>
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is honoring the late Jason Leffler with a tribute atop the iconic Pagoda scoring board.More >>
Apartment project destroyed by fire gets new life
Apartment project destroyed by fire gets new life
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 3:43 PM EDT2013-06-19 19:43:32 GMT
Community leaders gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the opening of the city's newest affordable housing community, one which looks far different than any other.More >>
Community leaders gathered Wednesday morning to celebrate the opening of the city's newest affordable housing community, one which looks far different than any other.More >>
Lil Wayne denies flag desecration during video shoot
Lil Wayne denies flag desecration during video shoot
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 3:26 PM EDT2013-06-19 19:26:54 GMT
Rapper Lil Wayne is taking some big heat on the internet over what apparently happened during a video shoot. But the singer says he didn't mean to step on the American flag while shooting the video forMore >>
Rapper Lil Wayne is taking some big heat on the internet over what apparently happened during a video shoot.More >>
Fire Chief: Overnight Lebanon house fire was intentionally set
Fire Chief: Overnight Lebanon house fire was intentionally set
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 12:24 PM EDT2013-06-19 16:24:57 GMT
Two people were taken to Witham Hospital after a fire at a house in the 500 block of East Noble Street early Wednesday morning. Lebanon dispatched the fire at 1:00 a.m. and firefighters were on the sceneMore >>
Lebanon's Fire Chief says an overnight fire that injured two people, one critically, was intentionally set.More >>
Broken valve leads to steam release in downtown Indianapolis
Broken valve leads to steam release in downtown Indianapolis
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:51 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:51:52 GMT
A break in an underground steam line caused 300-degree steam to pour from a downtown Indianapolis manhole on North Street for around an hour Wednesday morning.More >>
A break in an underground steam line caused 300-degree steam to pour from a downtown Indianapolis manhole on North Street for around an hour Wednesday morning.More >>

Our news gathering partner at the Indianapolis Star put together a timeline that helps us understand what happened.

On April 26th, the Taylor University van is struck by a semi. Four students and an employee are killed. Laura VanRyn's identification is placed with the injured Whitney Cerak. Cerak, misidentified as VanRyn is flown to Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne.

April 27-Students gather to mourn the loss of four students and an employee.

April 30-A funeral service is held for Whitney Cerak in Gaylord, Michigan without her family knowing that she is really alive.

May 7-Taylor holds a memorial service for the crash victims in which Laura VanRyn's parents attend.

May 18-Laura is moved from a Fort Wayne hospital to a rehab center in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

May 20-Taylor University holds its graduation ceremonies where the students that were killed received posthumous diplomas. The VanRyn's go to the ceremony and receive Laura's diploma.

May 22-The VanRyn family keeps a blog to communicate their daughters recuperation process. She is not in a coma, but she is not really alert.

On Monday of this week, May 29th, the VanRyns begin to show concern whether the young woman they've been caring for is really Laura. Hospital workers ask the patient to write her name down. She writes Whitney Cerak. The VanRyn website changes, with the family making the heartbreaking announcement on their blog.

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Landlords tell residents to take down American flag
Landlords tell residents to take down American flag
Updated: Tuesday, June 18 2013 11:12 PM EDT2013-06-19 03:12:37 GMT
You'll be seeing a lot of American flags displayed in the coming weeks as we approach the Fourth of July. It's your right to fly the flag at your home. There's a law that says so, but if you live atMore >>
Hoosiers are being ordered to take down Old Glory at some area apartment complexes and it could cost them if they refuse.More >>
Five charged in Marion County auto theft sting
Five charged in Marion County auto theft sting
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:04 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:04:56 GMT
The Marion County prosecutor has announced charges after an undercover auto theft investigation. Four suspects have been arrested for separate thefts, and police are still looking for a fifth suspect. AMore >>
The Marion County prosecutor has announced charges after an undercover auto theft investigation.More >>
Muncie named as new headquarters for DD Dannar; over 280 new jobs
Muncie named as new headquarters for DD Dannar; over 280 new jobs
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:41 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:41:01 GMT
A company that manufactures "mobile power stations" powered by alternative energy will build its new headquarters and factory in Muncie. DD Dannar LLC made the announcement Wednesday. Muncie beat outMore >>
A company that manufactures "mobile power stations" powered by alternative energy will build its new headquarters and factory in Muncie.More >>
Indiana prosecutor: Fatal police shooting justified
Indiana prosecutor: Fatal police shooting justified
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:04 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:04:05 GMT
A northeastern Indiana prosecutor says police snipers acted appropriately when they shot and killed a man holding a 3-year-old boy hostage. The Journal Gazette reports Allen County Prosecutor Karen RichardsMore >>
A northeastern Indiana prosecutor says police snipers acted appropriately when they shot and killed a man holding a 3-year-old boy hostage.More >>
Report: Gay youth group files against BMV
Report: Gay youth group files against BMV
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:07 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:07:44 GMT
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is taking the battle over specialty auto license plates for a gay and lesbian youth counseling group to federal court. The Indiana Bureau of Motor VehiclesMore >>
The American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana is taking the battle over specialty auto license plates for a gay and lesbian youth counseling group to federal court.More >>
Fire Chief: Overnight Lebanon house fire was intentionally set
Fire Chief: Overnight Lebanon house fire was intentionally set
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 12:24 PM EDT2013-06-19 16:24:57 GMT
Two people were taken to Witham Hospital after a fire at a house in the 500 block of East Noble Street early Wednesday morning. Lebanon dispatched the fire at 1:00 a.m. and firefighters were on the sceneMore >>
Lebanon's Fire Chief says an overnight fire that injured two people, one critically, was intentionally set.More >>
Family: Country singer Slim Whitman dies at age 90
Family: Country singer Slim Whitman dies at age 90
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 10:44 AM EDT2013-06-19 14:44:47 GMT
Country singer Slim Whitman has died at the age of 90 in Florida. His son-in-law, Roy Beagle, says Whitman died Wednesday of heart failure. Whitman's career began in the late 1940s, and his tenor falsettoMore >>
Country singer Slim Whitman has died at the age of 90 in Florida.More >>
Broken valve leads to steam release in downtown Indianapolis
Broken valve leads to steam release in downtown Indianapolis
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 11:51 AM EDT2013-06-19 15:51:52 GMT
A break in an underground steam line caused 300-degree steam to pour from a downtown Indianapolis manhole on North Street for around an hour Wednesday morning.More >>
A break in an underground steam line caused 300-degree steam to pour from a downtown Indianapolis manhole on North Street for around an hour Wednesday morning.More >>
Misunderstanding results in cat on graduation cake
Misunderstanding results in cat on graduation cake
Updated: Tuesday, June 18 2013 6:45 PM EDT2013-06-18 22:45:37 GMT
An misunderstanding over a graduation cake is quickly going viral. A Zionsville mom wanted a local bakery to draw a graduation cap on the picture of her daughter on the cake, but the worker taking theMore >>
A Zionsville mom wanted a local bakery to draw a graduation cap on the picture of her daughter on the cake, but the worker taking the order heard something different.More >>
Asbestos found in Belmont Ave. fire debris
Asbestos found in Belmont Ave. fire debris
Updated: Wednesday, June 19 2013 5:33 PM EDT2013-06-19 21:33:16 GMT
Asbestos and pop-up fires are two big concerns as investigators look for a cause of a massive warehouse fire on the Indianapolis southwest side. The fire at 202 S. Belmont Ave. at Nationwide RecyclingMore >>
An independent test conducted by WTHR has found asbestos in some of the debris that fell in Indianapolis neighborhoods during a huge warehouse fire last weekend.More >>

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Taylor University accident timeline - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Taylor University accident timeline

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