2 teens injured in 3-vehicle crash in north Terre Haute

By Lucy Perry
Indiana Central News

Two Terre Haute North High School students were injured in a three-vehicle crash involving a school bus this afternoon.

Leann Bealmear, 17, and her passenger, Madeline Tate, 16, both of Terre Haute, were transported by Terre Haute Fire Department paramedics to a nearby hospital for complaint of pain.

Indiana State Police and Terre Haute City Police and Fire units responded to the three- vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of Fruitridge Avenue -- near the railroad tracks north of Maple Avenue just before 3:30 p.m.

ISP Sgt. Joe Watts explained that Daniel T. Page, 30, of Dugger,  was operating a white 2008 Ford service truck, westbound across the northbound lanes of Fruitridge Avenue from a service road. At the same time, three Vigo County School Corporation buses were stopped in the driving lane of northbound Fruitridge Avenue at the railroad tracks.

Page was attempting to make a left turn to proceed south on Fruitridge Avenue.

"In doing so, Page pulled into the path of a northbound 2016 Volkswagen Jetta, in the passing lane, and driven by  Bealmear. The Volkswagen collided with the left front of the Page truck and then spun into the driver’s side of a 2015 International school bus, driven by 57-year-old Lorri A. Ugo, of Terre Haute," Watts said, noting that troopers are looking into the possibility that Page may have been waved across by one of the school bus drivers.

 Page was not injured.  His truck was owned by Indiana Railroad.

The bus was transporting 13 high school age students at the time of the crash. Watts said that while one student complained of pain at the scene, the student was not transported for treatment at time of the crash. The students were placed on a another bus.The bus didn't sustain any obvious damage, however it will be inspected.

Various administrative school personnel were on scene to assist, Watts said.