IndianaLocalNews

Semi driver identified after arrest for running light, smashing into school bus on US 30

(Photo supplied/News Now Warsaw)

More than a dozen injuries were reported after a school bus was struck by a semi on U.S. 30 in Warsaw.

The crash happened around 8 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 13, at the intersection of U.S. 30 and Center Street when the semi driver allegedly ran a red light, hitting the bus which was trying to cross the highway, according to the initial police investigation. The force of the impact caused the bus to tip on its side.

The bus was carrying hockey team members from Saint Ignatius College Prep in Chicago. The team was enroute to a hotel in Warsaw after a game at Culver Academies, according to a coach, as reported by NBC 5 in Chicago.

Nearly two dozen students, two coaches and the bus driver were aboard the school bus. The students range in age from 14 to 17. As many as 16 people were injured. At least 3 injuries were described as critical by Warsaw Police.

Victor Santos (Photo supplied)

Just before the collision occurred, police received calls about a semi traveling in and out of lanes at excessive speeds.

The semi driver, Victor Santos, 58, of Brooklyn, New York, failed a field sobriety test and refused to grant officers a chemical test. He was taken into custody on a 48-hour prosecutorial hold and faces formal charges of driving while intoxicated.

Video of the crash scene courtesy of News Now Warsaw:

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5 comments

Keith November 13, 2022 at 6:20 am

Semis cause cause a huge portion of traffic accidents. The semi driver is almost always at fault. They are not proffesional drivers. Stiffer penalties including jail time should be considered fir theese reckless maniacs.

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Steven November 13, 2022 at 10:10 am

Being a professional driver for over 30 years and having a outstanding safety record in all 4 seasons of driving, I have to disagree with you. Tractor trailers are involved in accidents , that is true but I have found through experience that cars and their drivers are the biggest hazards on the road.There are good and bad drivers of all vehicles. Traveling daily across us 30 I experience the majority of carelessness comes from drivers of cars, everyday I see almost everyone on their cell phone, no turn signals, speeding up when being passed, running red lights, cars that won’t move out of the left lane, and riding right next to the truck, side by side not realizing that that is one of the most hazardous things to do while driving.it is true that there are un professional semi drivers, but to say that trucks in general cause most accidents is statistically un true.On a daily basis I see people driving in cars that will take any risk, and create any hazard in order to get to where they are going, with absolutely no regard for any other driver. I will retire next summer and be glad to do it, the way people drive today and their “it’s all about me “ attitude is something I will not miss.

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Rhonda November 14, 2022 at 8:42 am

I sure agree with you. You have car drivers out there who want to play games with semi trucks. Pulling in front of them slamming their brakes on. They don’t realize how far it takes a semi to stop. I’ve seen people with children in the car doing this game so-called they do not realize the danger they are putting their themself and their families in.

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DAVID A KRIEGEL November 13, 2022 at 5:25 pm

STRONGLY DISAGREE with this blanket blame statement. Sure trucks are heavier When they hit, they do tremendous damage Think a driver running into stopped traffic on an inter state at 70 MPH. However When you look at the millions of miles many drivers drive with no accidents ( they get a reward) the STATISTICS SHOW They ONAVERAGE are very very safe compared to your average car driver

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DAVID A KRIEGEL November 13, 2022 at 5:27 pm

There were 388,000 large truck accidents in 2018. This means that truck accidents make up about 6.5 percent of total accidents.
However, truck accidents make up twice the percentage of fatal crashes. Of those 388,000 large truck accidents, 28 percent (107,000) resulted in injury and over 11 percent (4,415) resulted in a fatality. This accounts for over 13 percent of total fatal crashes in 2018.
Unfortunately, the fatalities associated with truck accidents occur mostly to occupants of other vehicles. In 2019, in truck accidents involving two or more vehicles, only 72 large truck occupants were killed. Meanwhile, 2,132 passenger vehicle occupants were killed.
Most of the accidents happen on highways and major roads. In 2019, 1,328 deaths in large truck accidents occurred on interstates and freeways; 2,158 happened on other major roads; and 621 occurred on minor roads.
The majority of passenger vehicle fatalities (60 percent) caused by truck accidents happen when there is a collision with the front-end of the truck.

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