No Criminal Charges Will be Filed in Fatal School Bus Crash

LOGANSPORT, IN – On September 26, 2008, officers from the Indiana State Police responded to a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 24 east of County Road 800 West that killed four elementary school children. The students were traveling in a Twin Lakes School Corporation bus. All four were elementary students from the Twin Lakes School Corporation. The bus was returning to Monticello from Logansport, IN.  The four children were all special needs students who attended different elementary schools in Logansport that catered to their special needs. 

The crash investigation by Master Trooper Randy Pryor revealed that Deborah R. Duvall, 46, Idaville, IN, was driving a 15 passenger Ford multi-purpose school bus westbound on U.S. 24. Raymond Gust, 59, Logansport, IN, was driving a 2005 Honda Metropolitan motor scooter eastbound on U.S. 24. Gust stopped to turn into his driveway on the north side of the road. A 1996 Mack dump truck driven by Terry L. Dixon, 53, Logansport, IN, was also traveling eastbound on U.S. 24 behind the motor scooter.

When the scooter slowed or stopped, Dixon applied the brakes to the dump truck causing the truck to veer into the westbound lane striking the mid portion of the school bus. The bus then overturned onto its side, slid into the eastbound lane, and was struck in the roof by a second eastbound 1996 Mack dump truck driven by Joe T. Magers, 44, Logansport, IN. The four children on the school bus were pronounced dead at the scene by Cass County Coroner Gene Powlen. Duvall was transported by helicopter to Parkview Hospital in Ft. Wayne. She has since been released. Gust, Dixon and Magers were not injured.

The results of the Indiana State Police investigation were forwarded to Cass County Prosecutor Kevin Enyeart for his review. Prosecutor Enyeart has decided that none of the crash participants actions rose to the level of requiring criminal charges be filed.