Tragedy struck near Kokomo yesterday afternoon when a construction worker was killed after being struck by a school bus in a traffic incident, Indiana State Police have confirmed. The accident occurred around 3:30 p.m. at the intersection of State Road 22 and County Road 400 East, as reported by WTHR. Aaron Esparza, a 31-year-old worker from Logansport, was directing traffic within the construction zone when the bus, operated by a 35-year-old Kokomo woman, crossed at State Road 22 and was subsequently hit by a Dodge Ram, causing it to collide with Esparza.
The chain of events leading to the fatal incident began when the school bus, attempting to enter State Road 22, was struck on the driver's side by the pickup truck, driven by a 72-year-old man from Windfall, Indiana. This collision forced the bus to unexpectedly move and critically hit Esparza. Howard County Coroner's Office promptly pronounced him dead at the scene. While the school bus driver sustained a minor injury, none of the eight children aboard the bus were harmed, WNDU reported.
The aftermath of the crash saw local authorities from Indiana State Police and the Howard County Sheriff's office responding rapidly to the scene. Investigations revealed the vehicles involved, including a yellow 2018 Bluebird School Bus and a gray 2008 Dodge Ram pickup truck, as detailed by FOX59. Details of the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident have yet to fully emerge.
Authorities are continuing to look into all potential contributing factors of the deadly collision. The community now mourns the loss of Esparza, whose life was cut short in this unfortunate chain of reactions on what began as a regular Monday afternoon.
