Howard County, IN – A Logansport man was killed Monday afternoon, October 6, 2025, in a crash involving a school bus and pickup truck on State Road 22 near County Road 400 East, according to Indiana State Police.
The preliminary investigation, led by Master Trooper Jeremy J. Perez, found that a 2018 Bluebird school bus driven by Tara D. Lopez, 35, of Kokomo, was traveling north on County Road 400 East toward State Road 22 when the collision occurred.
A construction worker identified as Aaron M. Esparza, 31, of Logansport, was directing traffic in the construction zone at the intersection when a gray 2008 Dodge Ram, driven by Rolland Brent Mcquiston, 72, of Windfall, allegedly struck the bus on the driver’s side for an undetermined reason. The impact caused the bus to hit Esparza.
Mr. Esparza was pronounced dead at the scene by the Howard County Coroner’s Office. Lopez and Mcquiston were treated for minor injuries, and no injuries were reported among the eight children on the bus, police said.
Authorities noted that neither alcohol nor drugs are suspected in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing.
Responding agencies included the Indiana State Police, Howard County Sheriff’s Office, Indiana Fire Marshal, Taylor Township Volunteer Fire Department, Howard County EMA, Community Howard EMS, and the Howard County Coroner’s Office.
