On 11/12/2022, at approximately 8:06 p.m., Central Dispatch notified patrol officers of reports of a tractor-trailer with a New Jersey registration swerving into other lanes and driving at excessive speed. Additionally, the semi was reportedly driving off the roadway as it was entering the Warsaw city limits westbound on U.S. 30.

Two minutes later, as officers were on their way to intercept, they were advised that the suspect semi had just struck a school bus at the intersection of Center St. and the bus was on its side. Multiple first responders converged on the intersection as it was quickly determined to have multiple injuries to the youth. The semi-driver continued west and came to a stop driving off the roadway into the ditch an eighth of a mile from the intersection.

Based on initial investigation, it is believed at least one of the juveniles was ejected from the bus as it made a left or northbound turn onto Center St. from the eastbound left turn lane. The semi struck the bus in the right rear. Officers and other emergency personnel began attending to multiple injuries from critical to minor. Confirming with eyewitnesses and a nearby surveillance camera, the semi driver disregarded a red light by several seconds before striking the bus during its turn.

Upon contacting the semi driver, officers had reason to suspect alcohol was a factor in this collision. They detected a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage on his person and in the cab of the semi, as well as slurred speech. Warsaw officers began an OWI investigation. 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. That suspect, out of New York, is currently being held on a 48-hour hold put in place by the Kosciusko County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office for formal charges pertaining to Operating While Intoxicated, Causing Serious Bodily Injury, a level 5 felony.

Investigators found that the busload of youth were in town to spend the night for a weekend hockey tournament taking place in Culver. After having dinner in Warsaw, they headed to a local hotel. The hockey team is from St. Ignatius College Prep out of Chicago, Illinois.

Two critically injured youths were immediately transported by ambulance to Fort Wayne Lutheran. Additional injured youth were transported by ambulance to Lutheran Kosciusko Hospital. The remainder of the players, coaches, and bus driver were transported by a bus provided by Warsaw Community Schools and went to LKH. Warsaw officers were assigned to the hospital to assist with triage and notification of family for the minors.

In all, there were 23 students, 2 adult coaches, and the bus driver on the Illinois school bus. At this time, we have accounted for 16 injuries, 3 being very critical, and 10 considered with no injuries or sign offs at the local hospital. The ages of the students range between 14 and 17 years old, with most children 15 years of age. All family members have been notified of this accident. The bus driver, in cooperation with investigators, consented to a blood draw due to the seriousness of this collision.

This is still an active investigation and additional charges may be added or enhanced based on the outcome. The suspect in custody has been identified as Victor Santos, a 58-year-old male out of Brooklyn, New York. He was operating a truck and trailer out of the state of New Jersey.

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. Crouse Towing assisted with the recovery of both vehicles and clean up on the scene. – According to Warsaw PD in Indiana

The following information is a result of a police investigation. The suspect, in this case, is considered innocent until proven guilty in court.