On Monday, Nov. 18, at approximately 3:42 p.m., officers from the Indiana State Police and the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department responded to a three vehicle crash near 5394 South SR 15, in which an off-duty police officer died.

The preliminary crash investigation by Trooper Chuck Meyer revealed that David Rigney, 39, Lafontaine, Ind., was driving a 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer southbound on SR 15, near 5394 South. The vehicle hit a slick spot in the road and fishtailed into the northbound lane of SR 15.

The Trailblazer was hit in the driver’s side door by a northbound 2015 International school bus. The bus was driven by Daniel Dale, 55, Wabash, Ind. A 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt, driven by Cassandra Pyles, 29, Marion, Ind., was traveling southbound on SR 15, behind the Trailblazer. After the SUV was hit by the bus, it was pushed back into the southbound lane striking the Cobalt.

Rigney was pronounced dead at the scene from injuries sustained in the crash. Dale and Pyles were not injured. There were 39 children on the school bus. Some children had a complaint of pain. They were checked out by paramedics at the crash scene, but none required transportation to a hospital.

The bus was from the Metropolitan School District of Wabash County.
This crash is still under investigation, but at this time neither the use of alcohol nor narcotics is suspected as having contributed to this crash. All drivers in the crash were wearing seat belts.

Rigney was a police officer with the North Manchester Police Department (NMPD). He had served with NMPD since August of 2012. He was off duty and in his personal vehicle at the time of the crash.