Published: February 08, 2010 02:01 pm      

Blowing, drifting snow causes crashes

One child receives minor injuries when SUV rear-ends school bus near Greentown

Slick snow-covered roads were the cause of several slide-offs and crashes Friday and Saturday including one involving a school bus in eastern Howard County.

Only one of the 38 students on board the Eastern High School bus was injured Friday afternoon when a 2000 Dodge Durango rear-ended the bus on 50 South near 800 East, Greentown Marshal Jeff Bennett reported Saturday.

The child complained of head and neck pain and was transported to Howard Regional Health System. The driver of the Durango, Mitch Padfield, Greentown, was unable to stop on the snow covered slick roadway and crashed into the rear of the bus, Bennett said.

The driver of the bus, Monty Stout, Greentown, had all the bus’ red lights and stop arms activated when the SUV hit the bus from behind shortly after 3 p.m.

No other children were injured. A second bus was called to the scene and transported the remaining children to their homes. The Greentown Police were assisted at the scene by the Howard County Sheriff Department and the Indiana State Police.

Sheriff deputies and state police reported a number of other crashes caused by the snowfall, but no major injuries were reported.

Marc Dahmer of the National Weather Service in Indianapolis reported Howard County received about 4 inches, while 7 inches fell in nearby Tipton County.

Dahmer also said the storm dropped 9 inches across the eastern sections of the state, including 9.5 inches in Muncie.

In Grant County, state police say 28-year-old Trooper Lee Ross was struck and injured on Interstate 69 on Friday night while checking an abandoned vehicle in the median. He was treated and released.

• Mike Fletcher is the Kokomo Tribune crime reporter. He can be reached at 765-454-8565 or mike.fletcher@kokomotribune.com.