The local emergency management and first responder community is deeply mourning the loss of 32-year-old Justin Todd Hurd of rural Wingate, Indiana, who tragically passed away following a multi-vehicle collision involving a school bus on Friday afternoon, May 15, 2026.
Hurd was a dedicated public servant, serving as a full-time Advanced EMT with Fountain County EMS and as a volunteer firefighter—including several years as Fire Chief—for the Mellott Fire Department.
Details of the Crash
According to reports from the Indiana State Police, the fatal incident occurred just after 4:00 PM on May 15 at a rural intersection in southern Tippecanoe County:
The Location: The intersection of State Road 28 and County Road 400 East, located just east of Romney and near the Clarks Hill area.
The Mechanics: A Tippecanoe School Corporation school bus was traveling southbound on County Road 400 East and came to a stop at the intersection. As the bus entered the intersection to turn left (eastbound) onto State Road 28, Hurd’s motorcycle, which was traveling westbound on State Road 28, struck the side of the bus.
Emergency Response: Despite rapid life-saving efforts by responding crews—including the Tippecanoe County Sheriff’s Office, Tippecanoe County EMS, and the Randolph/Clarks Hill Fire Department—Hurd succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased at the scene.
Four students from Wainwright Middle School and the driver were on board the school bus at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported among them.
Life and Community Legacy
Justin Todd Hurd was a native of the Newtown and Mellott communities and a 2012 graduate of Fountain Central High School. His sudden passing has left a profound void in the local public safety network and the communities he fiercely protected:
Fire & EMS Service: Hurd joined the Mellott Fire Department the moment he turned 18 during his senior year of high school. Known for his unwavering commitment, he frequently was the first to arrive at the station when emergency tones dropped. He also served with Coal Creek Fire & Rescue and spent the last six years as a full-time Advanced EMT for Fountain County EMS.
Family & Faith: An active member of the Sterling Christian Church, Hurd was deeply devoted to his family. He was a father to three young children—Kip, Kori, and Kodi—and spent his free time coaching youth baseball, hunting, fishing, and helping local friends with seasonal farming.
Funeral Arrangements
Arrangements are being handled by the Family and Friends Funeral Home of Wingate:
Visitation: Scheduled for Thursday, May 21, 2026, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Sterling Christian Church in Veedersburg, Indiana.
Funeral Service: Will take place Saturday, May 23, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the Family and Friends Funeral Home in Wingate, with burial following at Riverside Cemetery in Attica.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial contributions be directed to the Hurd Children Account via Fountain Trust Bank to support his three surviving children. The crash reconstruction team of the Indiana State Police is continuing to document the final elements of the active traffic investigation
