The driver of the Indianapolis church bus that overturned, killing three people, told police the brakes failed as it rolled down an interstate exit ramp loaded with church campers.
Driver Dennis Maurer, 68, of Indianapolis, said when the brakes failed he could not prevent the bus from hitting a raised median barrier and overturning Saturday, according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police report.
Maurer was negotiating an exit ramp off I-465 when the crash took place.
The accident remains under investigation. The bus, built in 1986, and its cargo of parents, teenagers and children were less than a mile from Colonial Hills Baptist Church when the tragedy occurred. About 20 people were injured.
The bus careened off the exit ramp, sending terrified passengers on a roller-coaster-like ride that ended with the bus on its side on the southbound lanes of North Keystone Avenue. It was, as one witness described, "mass chaos." The crash killed a husband and wife, and a teenager — who were not identified — and injured more than 20 others.
Indianapolis Metropolitian police removed the wrecked bus overnight and reopened the road.
Another teen, also unidentified, was reported in critical condition Saturday night. But Troy Riggs, Indianapolis public safety director, said that it was expected that no more deaths would result from the accident.
The bus was one of two returning from Camp CoBeAc in Prudenville, Mich. Campers had arrived there Monday and left Saturday morning.
Witnesses told authorities the bus was traveling "at a high rate of speed'' as the driver tried to navigate the ramp.
Driver Dennis Maurer, 68, of Indianapolis, said when the brakes failed he could not prevent the bus from hitting a raised median barrier and overturning Saturday, according to an Indianapolis Metropolitan Police report.
Maurer was negotiating an exit ramp off I-465 when the crash took place.
The accident remains under investigation. The bus, built in 1986, and its cargo of parents, teenagers and children were less than a mile from Colonial Hills Baptist Church when the tragedy occurred. About 20 people were injured.
The bus careened off the exit ramp, sending terrified passengers on a roller-coaster-like ride that ended with the bus on its side on the southbound lanes of North Keystone Avenue. It was, as one witness described, "mass chaos." The crash killed a husband and wife, and a teenager — who were not identified — and injured more than 20 others.
Indianapolis Metropolitian police removed the wrecked bus overnight and reopened the road.
Another teen, also unidentified, was reported in critical condition Saturday night. But Troy Riggs, Indianapolis public safety director, said that it was expected that no more deaths would result from the accident.
The bus was one of two returning from Camp CoBeAc in Prudenville, Mich. Campers had arrived there Monday and left Saturday morning.
Witnesses told authorities the bus was traveling "at a high rate of speed'' as the driver tried to navigate the ramp.