Two Kentland residents killed in bus crash
Jun. 14—WHITE COUNTY — The victims of a fatal bus crash have been identified.
On Monday, the White County Coroner's Office revealed that Kentland residents Dayna Beck, 33, and Nathan Fields, 30, died in a three-vehicle collision that happened around 12:40 p.m. Friday, June 11, on Interstate 65 near the 189 mile-marker.
According to the Indiana State Police, Lafayette District, a silver 2011 Mazda Miata driven by Joseph Utley, 70, of Valparaiso, was traveling southbound on Interstate 65 in the left lane near the 189 mile-marker in White County. For an unknown reason, according to an investigation by ISP Trooper Tyler Stinson, the Miata went into the right lane and sideswiped a 2011 white Chevrolet Tahoe, driven by Beck. Fields was the passenger in the Tahoe.
The Miata went into a ditch as the Tahoe traveled across the median and into the northbound lanes, the ISP stated.
At the same time, a Greyhound bus, driven by James Jones, 65, of Chicago, Ill., was traveling northbound in the left lane, the report stated. The bus collided with the Tahoe on the passenger side. Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch on the east side of the northbound lane, the ISP stated.
Both occupants of the Tahoe were pronounced dead at the scene. On Monday, the White County Coroner's Office was able to notify family members.
The ISP stated that multiple passengers from the bus were transported to several nearby hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. One of the approximate 50 passengers was airlifted to an Indianapolis hospital by St. Vincent StarFlight helicopter.
Utley was not injured and Jones was taken to a Lafayette area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Trooper Stinson was assisted on scene by Troopers from the Lafayette Post, Troopers from the Lowell Post, Indiana State Police Crash Reconstruction Team, Indiana State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division, White County Sheriff's Department, DNR Officers, White County Coroner, Prairie Township Fire Department, Wolcott Fire Department, Monticello Fire Department, Chalmers-Brookston First Responders, Tippecanoe Township Fire Department, Lafayette Fire Department, Washington Township Fire Department, Otterbein Fire Department, Monticello EMS, Wolcott EMS, Tippecanoe County EMS, St. Vincent StatFlight, INDOT, Tri-County School Corporation, American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Farney's Towing.
Reach Kristi Hileman at kristi.hileman@pharostribune.com or 574-732-5150
