One dead in crash where school bus driver 'ran red light' while driving 35 kids to school
One person died and dozens of
elementary school children were taken to hospitals Friday after a school
bus crash in northern Illinois that left two cars mangled and the bus
on its side.
All 35 people aboard the bus survived the crash in Wadsworth, Illinois but the nature of the incident is still being investigated.
The bus driver may have run a red light, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran Jr. said.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
'The bus ... struck the vehicle, essentially close to a T-bone on the passenger section of the Jeep Wrangler,' Curran said.
Television footage showed the bus on its side with the two wrecked cars nearby and debris scattered in an adjacent farm field.
The coroner's office says a male died at the scene but did not provide other details. An autopsy is expected later today.
Josh McColough, a spokesman at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, said two children were in fair-to-serious condition, and 23 others taken to the hospital were listed as good-to-fair.
At Vista Medical Center East in
Waukegan, spokesman John Griffin said one student there was in fair
condition and five others were in good condition.
Most of the children climbed out of the bus through the back exit.
'Some of the kids were upbeat, jovial as if they just got off a ride at Great America,' Lake County Sheriff Chief Brian Keller said.
'Other kids were asking for their mother or father and wanted to go home.'
The accident happened around 8am about a mile from Newport Elementary School, which has about 400 students. The village of Wadsworth is about 45 miles north of Chicago.
All 35 people aboard the bus survived the crash in Wadsworth, Illinois but the nature of the incident is still being investigated.
The bus driver may have run a red light, Lake County Sheriff Mark Curran Jr. said.
WATCH THE VIDEO HERE
Injured: The victim was not identified, but a
number of the students- including 7-year-old Dejinae George- were
injured in some way
Minor: Police described many of the students as 'walking wounded'
Miracle: All of the students on the bus were
able to survive with minor injuries but a man in the SUV that the bus
crashed into was killed in the accident
Crash: The accident happened at around 8am on Friday in Wadsworth, Illinois and there were 35 people on board
Television footage showed the bus on its side with the two wrecked cars nearby and debris scattered in an adjacent farm field.
After the impact: Officials search for evidence at the scene of the three-car accident
Damage: The windows of the bus appear to be the worst effected
Crumpling: A police officer checks from roof entrance
Josh McColough, a spokesman at Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville, said two children were in fair-to-serious condition, and 23 others taken to the hospital were listed as good-to-fair.
Escape: Most of the children climbed out of the bus through the back exit
Dramatic: The investigation is still underway but they believe that the bus driver may have run a red light
Television footage showed the bus on its side with the two wrecked cars nearby and debris scattered in an adjacent farm field
Most of the children climbed out of the bus through the back exit.
'Some of the kids were upbeat, jovial as if they just got off a ride at Great America,' Lake County Sheriff Chief Brian Keller said.
'Other kids were asking for their mother or father and wanted to go home.'
The accident happened around 8am about a mile from Newport Elementary School, which has about 400 students. The village of Wadsworth is about 45 miles north of Chicago.
