At least five people, including three children and two adults, were killed Monday in a horrific collision between a school bus and a truck on a highway in Rushville, western Illinois. Meter reported.
According to Illinois State Police Troop 6 Capt. Jody Huffman, the bus veered into the path of the truck, causing the collision around 11:30 a.m., which set both vehicles on fire.
Three children aboard the Schuyler-Industry Schools bus, its driver and the truck driver died in the incident.
“There's really no words that can be said right now,” Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Redshaw said. “When a life is lost like this, it's devastating.”
The identities and ages of the victims were not immediately released and the school district canceled classes for Tuesday and Wednesday.
“It is with great sadness that we announce that our school community has lost staff and students in the traffic incident involving one of our school buses this morning,” Schuyler-Industry Schools stated.
“Out of respect for all involved, no names or further information will be released at this time.”
The collision occurred on the freeway at Parkview Road in Rushville, a small community of about 3,000 people about 60 miles west of Springfield, Illinois.
Schuyler County Coroner Terry Millslagle said autopsies on the victims are being performed in Springfield while the cause of the crash is investigated.
The collision comes less than two weeks after a public service bus and a private bus collided head-on in the Honduran town of La Montañita, killing 17 people, including a child.
At least 14 other people were injured in that incident.
