school bus accident

Griffith basketball team involved in bus crash to compete on Wednesday

ByWill Jones WLS logo

Sunday, March 20, 2016

Bus overturns in Indiana — A prayer service was held in Griffith, Ind., for the people injured Saturday when their school bus flipped over.
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GRIFFITH, Ind. (WLS) -- An Indiana state boys' basketball game that was postponed after the bus carrying the Griffith High School team flipped over has been rescheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday, according to a school statement.

The statement said that the boys are "ready to play ball."

However, Superintendent Peter Morikis said every player needs to be cleared before they can play. Of the injured, freshman team coach David Garrett and bus driver Andriana Wright are the only ones who remain hospitalized.

A school bus carrying members of the Griffith, Indiana boys basketball team overturned on I-65 near Lowell, Indiana Saturday afternoon.
Image from: RICHARD LIEBER

"We are all sore but other than that no serious injuries," said player Anthony Quintero.

Earlier Sunday, hundreds of community members gathered to support and pray for the 21 students and six adults who were on the bus when it flipped over early Saturday on Interstate 65 near Demotte, Ind., in Jasper County.

The roll over crash occurred after the bus was sideswiped by a car driven by a 23-year-old woman who had spilling a drink on herself.

"I had to cry. I just started crying. It was scary thing for me. Something that I don't want to witness again," said player Greg Teamer.

At the gathering at Central Park in Griffith, members of the tight-knit community said they were grateful that everyone survived.

"God performed a miracle for them, truly a miracle that nobody is deceased," said Dawn Jones, of Griffith.

Players were touched.

"Seeing all these people here supporting us really makes us happy, makes us get back on her feet and give us the adrenaline to get started over again and bring back a state ring," said player Greg Teamer.

GAME DAY INFORMATION
The semi-state match-up will be between Griffith and Marion High School at Lafayette Jefferson High School. The winner of that game will advance to the IHSAA Class 3A Boys Basketball finals on Saturday.

Tickets from Saturday's game can be used for Wednesday's game, school officials said. The Griffith High School Athletic Office will be selling tickets to game 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday.