3 children, 2 adults die after school bus collides with semi in Illinois: Authorities

Authorities in western Illinois say five people, including three children, have died after a school bus and a semi-truck collided on the highway.

RUSHVILLE, Ill. — Five people, including three children, were killed Monday after a school bus and a truck collided on a highway in western Illinois, authorities said.

The bus was traveling eastbound on Illinois Route 24 when “for an unknown reason” it crossed the center line into the westbound lanes and fell into the path of a truck carrying sand, Capt. Jody Huffman of Illinois State Police Troop 6 said at a press conference. Both vehicles were set on fire in the accident. The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. in Rushville, a community of about 3,000 residents about 60 miles (96.56 kilometers) west of Springfield.

All four people aboard the Schuyler-Industry Schools bus – three children and the driver – and the driver of the semi-truck, were killed.

“There aren’t really any words that can be said at this point,” Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Redshaw told reporters. “When you lose a life like that, it’s devastating.”

He said the tragedy has hit the small, close-knit community particularly hard.

Schuyler-Industry Schools canceled classes Tuesday and Wednesday due to the crash.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that our school community has lost both staff and students in the traffic incident involving one of our school buses this morning,” the school district said in a statement. “Out of respect for all involved, no names or further information will be released at this time.”

The cause of the accident was still being investigated on Monday afternoon. The names of the victims have not yet been released.

Schuyler County Coroner Terry Millslagle said the victims’ bodies were transported to Springfield for autopsies.