A bus stop crash in Fulton County two years ago still feels like yesterday

FULTON COUNTY, Ind. – For most people, October 30th is an exciting day whether for a child prancing about in costume early or an adult gearing up for Halloween. But for Brittany Ingle, it’s the anniversary of the worst day of her life.

On October 30th, 2018, a devastating crash at a bus stop killed three of her children as well as seriously injuring a fourth child.

“October 30, my kids were taken from this world way too soon. Feels like it was very much so yesterday. I can still remember telling my son, know you picking out which dog tag he wanted to wear, and saying goodbye to them and my daughter being excited to build her candy bridge,” said Ingle.

That morning took the lives of twin boys Mason and Xavier and daughter Alivia.

They were crossing the road to get on their Tippecanoe Valley bus when a truck ran into them, failing to stop for the flashing red lights and extended stop arm.

A fourth child, Maverick Lowe, was also struck but survived with serious injuries.

“That day you know I died too with my kids on that road. The only difference is I just feel like they forgot to bury me.” Butted “This is a really hard time of year. This was our favorite holiday, we would dress as families,” said Ingle.

After two years, the memories are still hard to look back on, but at least some are bittersweet.

“I look back and I think I can’t believe we did everything we did in two years considering everything,” said Ingle.

In July of 2020 the M.A.X. Strong Law went into effect in Indiana, named after Mason, Alivia, and Xavier.

The law strengthened bus stop safety by promoting pick-ups and drop-offs on one side of the road, increasing penalties for not stopping for school buses, and requiring most testing on bus stop safety laws when getting a driver’s license.

After four days of testimony, Alyssa Shepherd was found guilty on three counts of reckless homicide, one count of criminal recklessness, and driving around a school bus with the stop arm extended.

She is currently serving a four-year sentence in an Indiana state correctional facility.

“When I was told that Alyssa Shepherd was facing was one to six years. That was gut wrenching,” said Ingle.

But even with the hardship of losing her children, Ingle has a message to share with people in the middle of the school year.

“First of all, I want them to always remember Mason, Alivia, and Xavier and what happened October 30. And I also want them to remember all the other children that I’m going to help bring forward to light and get people to realize that this just didn’t happen in Rochester, Indiana. This happened all over, from Tampa, Florida, to Pennsylvania to Georgia. And It can’t happen again,” said Ingle.