Jenning County School Corp. Bus Aide Dies in Crash

(VERNON) – A Jennings County School Corp. bus aide was killed in a two-vehicle collision at 6:30 a.m. Wednesday at the State Road 7 and State Road 3 split near Vernon.

Photo provided by Indiana State Police

According to an Indiana State Police report, 74-year-old Mary Boyd, of North Vernon, was on the bus with the driver 72-year-old Robert J. Ringer, also of North Vernon, when the accident occurred.

Boyd was transported to St. Vincent-Jennings Hospital in North Vernon where she was pronounced dead by the Jennings County Coroner’s office.

Boyd had worked for the school corporation for more than a decade. As an aide, Boyd rode on the bus to monitor students.

ISP Sgt. Stephen Wheeles said no students were on the bus at the time of the crash. The bus was reportedly used to transport special needs students.

According to an Indiana State Police-Versailles Crash Reconstruction Team report, Ringer was driving a 2016 International school bus, owned by the Jennings County School Corp., south on State Road 7.

At the same time a 2013 Chevrolet truck, being driven by 48-year-old Harry T. Palmer, of North Vernon, was traveling north on State Road 7.

Palmer attempted to turn south onto State Road 3 in front of the bus resulting in the bus striking the passenger side of Palmer’s truck.

The bus came to a stop in the middle of State Road 7. Palmer’s truck came to a stop just off the roadway.

Palmer and a passenger in his vehicle, 44-year-old Steven P. Graham, of North Vernon, were both transported to St. Vincent-Jennings Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

Ringer was not injured in the crash.

Toxicology results are pending and an investigation continues, says ISP Sgt. Stephen Wheeles.

Assisting at the scene were the Jennings County Sheriff’s Office, Jennings County EMS, Vernon Fire Department, the Jennings County Coroner’s Office, and the Jennings County School Corp.