Report: Amy Beverland bus driver got out of driver's seat without engaging parking brake

A crash report released by Indianapolis police has shed new light on a bus crash that killed an elementary school principal on Jan. 26.

According to the report, the school bus driver, identified as Christine Beeler, got out of the driver's seat of the bus without engaging the parking brake, causing the bus to roll forward. The bus injured two 10-year-old students and killed Susan Jordan, principal of Amy Beverland Elementary School in Lawrence.

Beeler told police that Jordan died after she pushed the students to safety, prompting many to hail her as a hero.

Police said investigators did not find any mechanical issues with the bus, and nothing on the scene indicated Beeler was impaired. After the crash, she was taken to Eskenazi Hospital for a blood draw, which is standard procedure in wrecks involving injury. The results of the blood test have not been released.

The crash report indicates that Beeler was "distracted" but does not elaborate on what was drawing her attention away from her duties. It's also unclear whether Beeler is still employed by the Lawrence Township school district. Officials called Beeler a "model employee" and said she has no disciplinary history.

IndyStar was unable to reach Beeler by phone Monday for comment.

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Whether Beeler will face charges is up to the Marion County prosecutor's office, said Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Capt. Richard Riddle.

"(The incident) is still under investigation," said Peg McLeish, a spokeswoman for the prosecutor's office. "A charging decision has not been made."

Meanwhile, students at Amy Beverland have saluted their bus drivers with tributes on the school's Facebook page.

IndyStar reporter Madeline Buckley contributed to this story.

Call IndyStar reporter Michael Anthony Adams at (317) 444-6123. Follow him on Twitter: @MichaelAdams317 and on Snapchat: @michael389.

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