Five people, including three children, were killed in a collision between a school bus and a semi-truck on a highway in western Illinois on Monday, authorities said.
Lt. Jody Huffman of Illinois State Police Troop 6 said in a press conference that the bus was traveling eastbound when it crossed the center line of Route 24 and entered the westbound lane “for unknown reasons,” causing a semi loaded with sand to cross the center line and enter the westbound lane. He said he entered the path of the truck.
The collision caused both vehicles to burst into flames.
The crash occurred around 11:30 a.m. in Rushville, a Schuyler County community of about 3,000 people about 90 miles west of Springfield.
All four people on the bus from Schuyler Technical School (three children and the driver) and the driver of the semi-truck were killed.
Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Redshaw told reporters: “There is no word I can say at this time.” “It’s devastating when a life is lost like this.”
He said the tragedy hit the small, close-knit community particularly hard.
Schuyler Technical School canceled classes Tuesday and Wednesday due to the accident.
“It is with great regret that school officials announce the loss of both a staff member and a student in a traffic accident involving a school bus this morning,” the district said in a statement. “Out of respect for all involved, names and further information will not be released at this time.”
The cause of the crash remained under investigation Monday afternoon.
The victim’s name has not yet been released.
The National Transportation Safety Board will send a team to conduct a safety investigation along with state police, the agency announced late Monday on X (formerly known as Twitter).
Schuyler County Coroner Terry Millslagle said the victim’s body is being transported to Springfield for an autopsy.
