An early Thursday morning car-school bus crash on U.S. 421 south of Delphi left one dead and no serious student injuries. Photo provided by the Carroll County Sheriff’s Dept. Carroll County recorded its first fatality of the new year when an early Thursday morning crash between a car and a Delphi Community School Corporation school bus on its way to school left the driver of the car dead but no significant injuries to students.

According to the Carroll County Sheriff’s Department, Pastor Kasey A. Schnepp, 40, of Burlington, was traveling southbound on U.S. 421 just south of County Road 100 North when he lost control of his 1999 Ford Taurus on the snow-covered roadway and slid sideways into the path of DCSC bus No. 18, traveling northbound at that location. The school bus was driven by Tracey Bradshaw and had 28 elementary, middle and high students on board.

Schnepp was pronounced dead at the scene by Carroll County Coroner, Jay Dee Cree.

DCSC Superintendent Ralph Walker said one student suffered a nosebleed which seemed to be the most serious injury noted on the bus. As a precautionary measure, 11 students and Bradshaw were transported to two Lafayette hospitals after an evaluation by corporation medical staff and Carroll County ambulance staff.

Walker said that parents of all of the students on the bus were notified of the crash. He said some parents went to the site and took their children home. The remaining students were taken to their appropriate corporation buildings where they were evaluated by school counselors. In addition, school personnel accompanied the students transported to the hospitals.

“I feel blessed that no children were injured,” he concluded. “But I feel very bad for the family that lost one of its members.

Schnepp, who received his license to preach last summer, was appointed pastor at the United Methodist Church in Burlington in November. Fund created to aid pastor’s family

A memorial fund for the Kasey Schnepp family now exists at First Financial Bank with branches in Delphi and Flora.

Both savings and checking accounts were created in the name of Catherine Schnepp by friends. Anyone wanting to help the family financially is encouraged to contribute to either fund.

For additional information, contact the bank at (765) 564- 2696.