A multi-vehicle collision involving a Huntington County Community Schools bus injured a Fort Wayne man on Friday afternoon in rural Wells County, Indiana. The crash occurred just before 5 p.m. near the intersection of U.S. 24 and County Road 825 West/State Road 105, just north of Andrews, a small community of approximately 1,000 residents located about 45 minutes southwest of downtown Fort Wayne. According to Indiana State Police, school bus driver John Hull, 62, of Andrews, allegedly failed to yield to eastbound traffic on U.S. 24 and collided with a Dodge van operated by Bradley Mix, 56, of Fort Wayne. The force of the impact caused Mix's van to roll onto its side and slide into a Ford truck driven by William Wiles, 69, of Andrews. Mix became trapped inside his overturned van and required extrication by emergency responders before being transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not believed to be life-threatening. Fortunately, no students were aboard the school bus at the time of the collision. Hull and Wiles were not reported to have sustained injuries in the Saturday morning news release from state police.

Location and Infrastructure

The crash site at the intersection of U.S. 24 and County Road 825 West/State Road 105 is located in a rural area of Wells County, characterized by agricultural land and scattered commercial development including a dollar store and truck repair facility. U.S. Route 24 is a major east-west highway that traverses northern Indiana, carrying significant through-traffic between Fort Wayne and points west. This intersection serves as a crossing point for local County Road 825 West, which also functions as State Road 105 in this area, creating a junction where drivers on the county road must yield to the higher-volume traffic on U.S. 24. Rural intersections like this one can present visibility challenges, particularly during certain times of day when sun glare may be a factor, and require careful attention to right-of-way regulations. The area's rural character means emergency response times may be longer than in urban settings, though multiple emergency services responded to this incident.

Legal Rights and Considerations

Indiana law establishes specific regulations regarding right-of-way at intersections, requiring drivers on secondary roads to yield to traffic on through highways like U.S. 24. Under Indiana Code 9-21-8-32, failure to yield right-of-way that results in a collision may constitute a traffic violation and establish liability for resulting damages. Victims of traffic accidents in Indiana may be entitled to compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and property damage through insurance claims or civil litigation. Indiana operates under a modified comparative fault system, meaning injured parties can recover damages as long as they are less than 51% at fault for the accident. The state imposes a two-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims from motor vehicle accidents under Indiana Code 34-11-2-4, making prompt legal consultation important for protecting one's rights. When school buses are involved, additional regulations and insurance considerations may apply, including higher liability coverage requirements for school districts and specific safety standards. Anyone injured in such accidents should document their injuries thoroughly and consider consulting with an attorney experienced in Indiana traffic accident cases.

Related Resources

Emergency Services:

• Wells County Emergency Management Agency: (260) 824-6415
• Indiana State Police Fort Wayne Post: (260) 432-8661
• Lutheran Hospital Fort Wayne (Trauma Center): (260) 435-7001

Traffic Safety Resources:

• Indiana Criminal Justice Institute Traffic Safety Division: www.in.gov/cji/traffic-safety
• Wells County Sheriff's Department: (260) 824-3426
• Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles - Driver Safety: www.in.gov/bmv

Support Services:

• Indiana Victim Assistance: 1-800-353-1484
• Wells County Community Resources
• Indiana Patient Compensation Fund (for injury claims)

Legal and Regulatory Information:

• Indiana Code Title 9 (Motor Vehicles): iga.in.gov
• Indiana State Police Crash Reports: www.in.gov/isp
• Indiana Department of Insurance Consumer Services: 1-800-622-4461