Full Notification

Media Note: The correct name of the child killed in yesterday's fatal crash is Jacob Williams.  The error has been corrected in the below re-issued release.

The Indiana State Police apologizes for the error in the previous update release issued at 11:14 a.m. today.

Indianapolis – Today, July 29, 2015, the Indiana State Police are confirming the identity of the six year old boy killed in yesterday afternoon’s church bus crash as Jacob Williams, of Gary, IN.

As the investigation has continued it has been determined the intent of the planned trip was to travel out of Indiana.  This means the Church Bus should have had a USDOT registration number.  Though there was no USDOT number assigned to the vehicle, the Indiana State Police are conducting the ongoing investigation based on the fact the vehicle was required to have a USDOT number. 

Based on the determination the vehicle, a 1999 Ford F-450 Econoline 15 passenger Bus, was subject to USDOT regulations, members of the Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division (CVED) initiated a post crash inspection of the bus at the location it was towed to, Inman’s Tow Service, located in Greenfield, IN.  The inspection started at 9:00 this morning.  These inspections typically take two to three hours to complete.  The results of the inspection will be made part of the crash report investigation.

The driver of the bus, 53 year old Charles Goodman of Gary, IN continues to be treated for non-life threatening injuries at Indianapolis’ Methodist Hospital.

The investigation of the fatal crash is ongoing.  Depending on complexities, fatal crash investigations can take several weeks or longer before being completed.  Once complete, the crash investigation will be forwarded to the Hancock County Prosecutor’s Office for review and further action as deemed appropriate by that office.

No further information is available.

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BURSTEN / PERRINE

Below is the original information released on this crash yesterday afternoon:

Hancock County – July 28^th at approximately 4:10 PM Indiana State Police personnel responded to the report of a rollover crash on I-70 eastbound near the 107 mile marker. Preliminary investigation indicates a small church bus was traveling eastbound on I-70 and for unknown reasons ran off the south side of the roadway and rolled over.  A six year old male passenger was ejected from the bus and pronounced dead at the scene by the Hancock County Coroner. The driver of the bus, 53 year old Charles Goodman of Gary, IN was also ejected and was pinned underneath the bus.  Goodman was alert and conscious at the scene, and subsequently transported to the hospital by a medical helicopter. There were a total of 12 passengers on board, 7 of which suffered injuries as the result of the crash.

During the course of the investigation it was determined the driver, Charles Goodman, was allegedly operating on a suspended license and has an active arrest warrant out of Lake County Indiana as a result of failing to appear in court for a traffic offense.

Based on preliminary investigation this crash appears to be a result of driver error, there is no evidence at this time of any mechanical failure. Although this bus does not qualify as a commercial motor vehicle by definition, due to the circumstances of the crash it will be inspected by the Indiana State Police Commercial Motor Vehicle Division.

I-70 eastbound remains closed at this time while the crash is investigated and the scene is cleared. Eastbound traffic is being diverted at SR 9 in Greenfield. Westbound remains open.

The investigation is ongoing.

Investigating Agency, Indiana State Police

Investigating Officers:

Trooper Wade Heiny, ISP

Sgt. Mark Helms

Sgt. Bill Spalding

Assisting Agencies:

Hancock County Sheriff’s Department

Greenfield Police Department

Greenfield Fire Department

Buck Creek Fire Department

Sugar Creek Fire Department

Shirley Fire Department

Inman's Towing,Greenfield

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Perrine