Driver injured when Carmel school bus strikes house - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Police are trying to figure out what caused a Carmel School bus driver to crash into a home early Wednesday morning.

It happened at around 6:30 am. Bus 111 crashed into a home in the 13000 block of Tarkington Commons while en route to pick up high school students. That's southeast of Main and Gray Rd. 

The bus was traveling south on Gray Rd. and left the road just south of Main street. The bus proceeded through a ditch or culvert and into the backyard, coming to a rest in the side of the garage.

No children were on board the bus. The driver, Jack David Thomas, was conscious and alert and was transported to a local hospital for evaluation. He was treated and released with minor injuries.

In addition to police and fire crews, Carmel School Corp. transportation officials were on the scene.

The residents were at home but they were not hurt. The garage and a vehicle inside the garage were damaged.

Wrecker crews removed the bus by taking it through the front yard instead of trying to go through the way it came in.

Indiana State Police commercial vehicle enforcement officers ruled out any mechanical failure with the bus. Carmel Police and the Carmel Clay Schools Transportation Department were also consulted.

Police say Thomas ran off the road while making a left turn onto Gray Road from Main Street. When the front tire went off the road, the bus bounced. It was determined that the driver was not wearing his seat belt and lost control of the bus when he was bounced out of his seat. The driver tried to regain control of the bus, but was unable to before going off the road again and crashing through a fence, trees, a play set, and finally the house.

Thomas was cited for not wearing a seat belt.

 The Fishers Fire Department Tactical Rescue Team assisted with the stabilizing of the house when the bus was removed.

Fishers Fire dept. tactical rescue team arrived and made an assessment about the stability of the residence. Once the bus was removed, the team attached custom supports to temporarily stabilize the garage area until repairs can be made.