Illinois State Police Captain Jody Huffman (at podium) speaks during a news conference about the five people, including three children, who were killed Monday (Picture: AP)
Three children and two adults were killed when a school bus and lorry collided on a highway in western Illinois.
The bus was heading eastbound on US Route 24 and crossed the center line into the westbound lanes ‘for an unknown reason’ around 11.30am on Monday, said Illinois State Police Troop 6 Captain Jody Huffman.
After the bus got in the path of the lorry carrying sand, the vehicles collided and both burst into flames, said Huffman.
Three children aboard the Schuyler-Industry Schools bus and the driver were killed. The lorry driver also died.
The fatal crash happened on US Route 24 in Illinois on Monday morning (Picture: Google Maps)
‘There’s not really words at this time that can be said,’ said Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Redshaw.
‘When you have a loss of life like this, it’s devastating.’
The identities and ages of the victims were not immediately released.
Classes were canceled by the school district for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Both vehicles burst into flames upon colliding (Picture: WGEM)
‘It is with a heavy heart that we announce our school community has lost both staff and students in the traffic incident involving one of our school buses this morning,’ stated Schuyler-Industry Schools.
‘Out of respect for everyone involved, no names or further information will be released at this time.’
The crash happened on the highway at Parkview Road in Rushville, a tight-knit community of about 3,000 people about 60 miles west of Springfield, Illinois.
Schuyler County Coroner Terry Millslagle said the victims’ autopsies are being conducted in Springfield.
The cause of the crash continued to be investigated by authorities as of Monday afternoon.
It happened less than two weeks after two buses crashed head-on in the Honduran village of La Montanita, killing 17 people including a child. The crash between a public service bus and a private bus also injured 14 others. Both vehicles were traveling at ‘moderate speed’ on a mountainous and curvy road, witnesses said.
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