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Last updated on Thursday, January 28, 2016
(EVANSVILLE) - When Bob Kelley got the news, he wasn’t surprised by what his sister had done.
69-year-old Susan Kelley Jordan pushed several schoolchildren out of the way when a school bus jumped a curb at Indianapolis' Amy Beverland Elementary School, where she was principal for 22 years.
The bus struck Jordan, who died from her injuries on Tuesday. Two 10-year-old students also were injured. They were taken to Riley Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
71-year-old Kelley called his sister's reaction to the incident "remarkable."
"She loved those kids," Kelley said. "I just still can't believe it happened. I can't believe it."
Megan Erbacher of the vansville Courier & Press reports, the Kelleys are Evansville natives. Bob Kelley said his sister attended Plaza Park, and after the family briefly relocated to Pennsylvania, they returned to Evansville, where Susan was part of the second graduating class at Harrison High School -- the Class of 1964.
Kelley said she went on to graduate from the University of Evansville.
Her career started as a physical education teacher at Baker School, Kelley said, which was located near Baker Avenue and Main Street in Evansville. It was demolished around 1976. In the early 1970s, she moved to Indianapolis, where she continued teaching physical education before serving as a guidance counselor and then settling into a principal position.
The crash, which happened about 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, is still under investigation.
The bus driver showed no signs of impairment on scene, according to investigators. Detectives requested a blood draw from the driver, which is standard in fatal crash investigations.
No mechanical issues were detected when the bus was inspected Tuesday. And records show the bus also passed the Jan. 22 inspection by Indiana State Police.
At a news conference, Lawrence Township Schools Superintendent Shawn A. Smith called Jordan a "legend."
Kelley said it was "unbelievable" that the school district canceled all classes Wednesday. About 1,000 people gathered for a vigil Wednesday at St. Simon the Apostle Catholic Church to honor Jordan.
The last time Kelley saw his sister was New Year's Eve, when she was in Evansville and had dinner at his house. Kelley talked to her about retiring, but she didn't want to, he said.
Jordan has two daughters and four grandchildren, as well as a younger brother, 63-year-old Daniel Kelley.
Services will take place at St. Luke's United Methodist Church on 86th Street off Meridan in Indianapolis. Visitation is 2-8 p.m. (EST) Friday, with the service on Saturday at 3 p.m. She will be buried in Henderson, Kentucky, with the rest of her family.
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