Warsw Police provided this photo of the bus after it crashed on US 30 in Warsaw Saturday night, Nov. 12.

Staff Report

WARSAW – A truck driver who struck a school bus Saturday night in Warsaw and injured 16 people is facing drunk driving charges, police said.

The accident at US 30 and East Center Street happened shortly after 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 12, minutes after police received a report of a westbound truck driving erratically on US 30 that had – at one point – left the roadway prior to the crash, according to a news release from Warsaw Police.

The bus was carrying a hockey team from St. Ignatius College Prep, Chicago. They were in Warsaw to spend the night as part of a weekend hockey tournament in Culver. 

Police reported 16 injuries, including three believed to be “very critical.”

Victor Santos

The crash occurred as the bus was making a left turn onto Center Street from the eastbound US 30 turn lane. 

Two injured teens were taken by ambulance to Fort Wayne Lutheran. Other victims were taken by ambulance to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital in Warsaw.

In all, there were 23 students, 2 adult coaches, and the bus driver on the bus.  Students on the bus ranged in age from 14 to 17. 

The team had just had dinner and was heading to a local hotel when the accident happened.

Police believe at least one of the juveniles was ejected from the bus.

The remainder of the players, coaches, and bus driver were transported by a bus provided by Warsaw Community Schools and went to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital. 

After the crash, the truck driver continued west and came to a stop driving off the roadway into the ditch an eighth of a mile from the intersection. 

Police detected a strong odor of alcohol on the truck driver and in the cab of the semi. 

After failing standardized field sobriety tests, the driver was asked to consent to a chemical test but refused. A search warrant was applied for and granted, allowing officers to have hospital staff take a blood draw, which will be submitted for official testing. 

The truck driver, Victor Santos, 58, of Brooklyn, is being held on a “48-hour hold” put in place by the Kosciusko County Prosecutor’s Office while charges are filed.

He’s expected to be charged with operating while intoxicated, causing serious bodily injury, a level 5 felony. Additional charges may be added.

The crash is still under investigation, police said.

Warsaw Police were assisted by Kosciusko County Sheriff’s Office, The Kosciusko County F.A.C.T. investigators, Indiana State Police, Winona Lake Police, Mentone Police, Warsaw-Wayne Township Fire, North Webster Fire and EMS, Lutheran EMS, and Parkview Hospital EMS, and Warsaw Community Schools, as well as the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.

A view of the damage to the truck. Photo provided by Warsaw Police Department.