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Susan Jordan, principal of Amy Beverland for 22 years, died at the scene after the bus struck her and two 10-year-old students.
Witnesses said Susan Jordan managed to push several children out of harm’s way before she was hit.
Two 10-year-old students have been hospitalised with serious but non-life threatening injures.
Indianapolis Fire Department said the bus was one of several lined up outside the Amy Beverland Elementary School when it suddenly lurched forward and mounted a curb.
MSDLT Superintendent Dr. Shawn Smith announced in a press conference at the school at 5 p.m. that Principal Jordan was the victim in the accident and died at the scene of the crash.
“As superintendent of schools and a representative of the entire school community, we lost a great educator today. We are going to work closely with the authorities. We want to make it very clear it was an accident. We just ask everyone in this community and beyond please pray for our students and our great leader. Thank you,” said Dr. Smith.
The female bus driver told firefighters she was not sure what caused the bus to accelerate.
On Wednesday, police said an initial investigation found no mechanical problem on the bus.
Police Sgt Kendale Adams told reporters the investigation was ongoing, but that the crash appeared to be a “freak accident”.
Neither the driver or any of the 25 children on the bus were injured in the crash.
In a statement on its website, the school said: “District-wide, we will mourn the loss of our beloved Susan Jordan, principal of Amy Beverland Elementary.”
The school board, meanwhile, described Mrs Jordan, who had been head teacher at the school for 22 years, as an “amazing educator”.
“She had a remarkable way of making everyone she came in contact with feel valued and important. She had a passion for children that is unmatched,” the board said.
In May 2015 fellow colleagues and students published a moving video on YouTube thanking Mrs Jordan for all her work.
The video ends with text saying: “We love you, Mrs. Jordan! Amy Beverland really is the sunshine after the rainbow. Thank you for your many years of leadership!”
Indiana Governor Mike Pence on Wednesday ordered flags on government buildings in Marion County to be flown at half-staff on the day of Mrs Jordan’s funeral, which has not yet been set.
He asked local businesses and residents to do the same.
The governor tweeted: “All of Indiana mourns the tragic loss of Susan Jordan, a courageous & devoted educator.”
Mayor Joe Hogsett was also at the press conference this evening to give his condolences and support to the Amy Beverland community.
“I cannot express deeply enough the sympathy and condolences that all of the city feels, only for the family of Susan Jordan but for those children that were affected by today’s accident. We dispatched first responders, IMPD and IFD, in cooperation with our Lawrence partners on scene. We will continue to be on scene throughout the rest of the evening with critical response personnel as well as chaplains to serve the needs of the people of this community. It is on tragic afternoons and evenings when we are led to cry and to mourn, but it is on this afternoon that we are also reminded of the goodness of the people that respond to tragedies like this and that we are, in fact, one city. We will endure. There will be tomorrow, as sad as this evening has been. And we express our condolences to the entire Amy Beverland community and Lawrence Township schools,” said Mayor Hogsett.
Agencies/Canadajournal
