3 dead when bus carrying teens crashes in Indiana

photo Firefighters work to extricate people from a bus crash Saturday, July 27, 2013 in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis Fire Department says three people were killed when a bus carrying teens from a church camp crashed on a busy thoroughfare near Interstate 465. The bus was carrying 40 passengers who are members of Colonial Hill Baptist Church and were returning from camp when the crash happened Saturday afternoon.

INDIANAPOLIS - A bus carrying teens coming home from a church camp crashed Saturday on a busy Indianapolis thoroughfare, killing three people and sending 26 others to hospitals, officials said.

Indianapolis Fire Department Lt. Ato McTush said the dead included a man and a woman. He did not have information about the third victim.

Witnesses said the bus came off the interstate at a high rate of speed Saturday afternoon, struck a retaining wall as it tried to round a curve and overturned. WTHR-TV reported the bus driver told witnesses his brakes failed.

An Indiana Department of Transportation camera showed the bus overturned on its side near an Interstate 465 overpass. The Indianapolis Fire Department said crews had to free five people who were trapped inside after the crash. Four good Samaritans helped before first responders could arrive, including one man who helped pull the driver out, the agency said.

The bus was carrying 40 passengers who are members of Colonial Hill Baptist Church in Indianapolis and were returning from a summer camp. The Fire Department said those injured included children and adults.

Indianapolis Fire Department spokesman Capt. Rita Burris said survivors were taken to area hospitals. Some of the victims were taken from the scene by helicopter.

Roads near the scene were closed, and authorities were urging people to use caution in the area. A hazardous materials crew was in the area cleaning up diesel fuel that spilled in the crash.

Parents of passengers were asked to go to the church for information.

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