A report released this week by Indiana State Police (ISP) says that a truck driver was removing a jacket and sweatshirt during a rear end crash with a school bus last month.
The crash happened around 9 a.m. on December 5 north of Argos, Indiana, according to a news release from ISP.
A school bus traveling northbound on US 31 stopped at a railroad crossing and as it began to accelerate after stopping, it was rear ended by a truck driven by 26 year old Indiana resident Tylor Perry.
One of the students riding on the school bus, 13 year old Owen Abbott, was killed in the crash. Several other students suffered minor to moderate injuries in the crash.
On Wednesday, January 16, ISP released a crash report that accuses the truck driver of obscuring his own vision by removing some of his clothing behind the wheel.
The ISP crash report says that “As [Perry] approached the railroad tracks, he was attempting to remove a sweatshirt and fleece jacket he was wearing. He pulled the clothing over his head and briefly took his eyes off the roadway.”
By the time Perry finished removing the clothing and looked back at the road, he applied his brakes hard and swerved left but was unable to stop in time to avoid the crash.
Police say that after the truck rear ended the bus, the truck went into the passing lane and then struck the driver’s side of the bus a second time.
The completed toxicology tests for both Perry and the bus driver determined that drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the crash.
ISP’s crash report will be forwarded to Marshall County prosecutors, who will determine whether to charge Perry.
Three civil lawsuits have been filed against Perry and his company, according to WSBT.