16 St Ignatius College hockey players injured as bus flips after 'drunk' driver crashed semi into it
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WARSAW, INDIANA: At least 16 Illinois junior varsity hockey players were injured the night of Nov 12 in Warsaw, Indiana, after an allegedly drunk semi-truck driver crashed into the team bus and flipped it on its side. St Ignatius College Prep said in a statement that three of the injured high school students required surgery and were initially in serious condition. They have since improved and were able to speak with their coaches.
According to a Nov 13 press release, shortly after 8.pm, Warsaw police were notified of a semi-truck driver who crossed into another lane at a high speed. When the truck rear-ended the school bus, police were on their way to stop the vehicle. The driver of the semi ran a red light seconds before colliding with the bus as it turned.
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According to Warsaw police, at least one student was thrown from the bus as a result of the collision. According to the press release, the truck driver was slurring and had "a strong odor" of alcohol on him. He also failed the sobriety tests, according to the police. The truck driver declined to take a chemical test as reported by CNN.
The truck driver, a 58-year-old New Yorker, is still being held under a 48-hour hold until a sample of his blood is submitted for official analysis. Police said the driver is facing felony charges for driving while intoxicated and inflicting significant bodily harm.
On the hired school bus, there were 23 students in all, along with two coaches and the driver, according to the police. They said that the students' ages "range between 14 and 17 years old, with most children 15 years of age." “Our hearts, our thoughts, and our prayers remain with our courageous student-athletes, coaches, and families of our JV Hockey Team after last night's accident,” athletic director Mike Hureley said. “We very much appreciate all of the loving messages and well wishes we have received for all of those affected."
“We will get through this together,” the Saint Ignatius Wolfpack Hockey Club said in the statement. The JV hockey team from Saint Ignatius, a Catholic Jesuit high school close to Chicago, was crossing into another state for a weekend competition in Culver. The crew had supper in Warsaw before going to their hotel, according to the police.
