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Last updated on Wednesday, May 23, 2012
(BLOOMFIELD) - A distracted driver is believed to be the cause of a 1994 Buick Skylark rear-ending a Bloomfield School District bus Monday afternoon on State Road 157.
Bus driver 48-year-old Jonas Johnson, of Bloomfield, had dropped off a student in the 5300 block of State Road 157 and was pulling away when the bus was hit in the rear by a car driven by 29-year-old Steven Howell Jr., of Worthington.
Greene County Sheriff's Deputy Brad Deckard says Howell's passenger 29-year-old Natasha Tresener, of Bloomfield, was leaning out the window and getting sick. Howell told police he was trying to hold her in the vehicle, and didn't see the bus stop. His Buick slammed into the back of the bus, lodging the front end of his car under it.
Johnson evacuated the 24 students off the bus immediately following the accident.
When police arrived Howell had exited the car and was moving about. Tresner was pinned between the seat and the dash and had to be freed by firefighters.
Howell suffered cuts and scrapes to his face and chest and complained of wrist pain. Tresner had cuts and scrapes on her lower body, face and arms. Deckard says both were conscious and answering questions.
Both Howell and Tresner were airlifted to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis via AirEvac.
Seven students complained of head and body aches on the scene, and were released to the care of their parents to seek medical attention.
BSD Superintendent Dan Sichting says one student was diagnosed with a concussion, is to return to school Thursday. Another student complained of back stiffness, and missed school Tuesday. Another student was kept home based on doctor's orders for observation due to a bump on his head.
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