DARKE COUNTY — One of three people killed in a fiery three-vehicle crash involving a transport van on Friday morning has been identified.
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News Center 7’s Mike Campbell is working to learn more about the crash and victims. He’ll have the latest tonight on News Center 7 at 5:00.
The bus driver killed in the crash was identified as Chris Bemis, 63, of St. Marys, the Darke County Sheriff’s Office announced on Friday afternoon.
Deputies and medics responded around 7:25 a.m. to State Route 49 and Pitsburgh-Laura Road on a reported crash.
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When deputies arrived, they found a three-vehicle crash, with a van and a car fully engulfed in flames.
An initial report revealed that a van hauling snow-removal equipment was going north on SR 49 when it crossed over the center line and hit a Spirit EMS transport van head-on, according to Sheriff Mark Whittaker.
After hitting the bus, the van hit another car. The car and van caught fire after the impact.
Two men were inside the van at the time of the crash. Whittaker said they were not able to get out and were pronounced dead at the scene. They have not been identified at this time.
The driver of the bus, Bemis, had to be extricated. He was flown to Miami Valley Hospital, where he died from his injuries.
There were two additional people on the bus, a student and a 62-year-old aide from New Madison. They were transported by medics to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
The driver of the car, an 18-year-old Arcanum girl, was also treated for injuries at the scene.
Brian Hathaway, owner of Spirit EMS, confirmed to News Center 7 that the student was 12 years old and was being transported from their home in the Tri Village Local School District to Franklin Monroe Local Schools.
“Our hearts and prayers go out to everyone involved in this terrible tragedy,” Hathaway said. “We are devastated by the loss of our teammate and deeply saddened for the other families who are grieving today.”
Whittaker added that the weather was not believed to be a factor in the crash.
“Unfortunately, a tragedy has unfolded here on our roadways, on State Route 49 in Darke County, once again,” Whittaker said.
The crash remains under investigation.
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