Associated Press
RUSHVILLE, Ill. 鈥� Five people, including three children, were killed in western Illinois when a school bus and semi-truck collided on a highway Monday, authorities said.
The bus was traveling eastbound when it crossed the center line on U.S. Route 24 into the westbound lanes 鈥渇or an unknown reason鈥� and into the path of a semi-truck carrying sand, Illinois State Police Troop 6 Capt. Jody Huffman said at a news conference. Both vehicles caught on fire in the crash. The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. in Rushville, a Schuyler County community of about 3,000 roughly 60 miles (95 kilometers) west of Springfield.
All four people aboard the bus from Schuyler-Industry Schools 鈥� three children and the driver 鈥� as well as the driver of the semi-truck were killed.
鈥淭here鈥檚 not really words at this time that can be said,鈥� Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Redshaw told reporters. 鈥淲hen you have a loss of life like this, it鈥檚 devastating.鈥�
He said the tragedy hit the small, close-knit community particularly hard.
Schuyler-Industry Schools canceled classes Tuesday and Wednesday because of the crash.
鈥淚t 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,鈥� the school district said in a statement. 鈥淥ut of respect for everyone involved, no names or further information will be released at this time.鈥�
The cause of the crash remained under investigation Monday afternoon. The Schuyler County Coroner identified the victims as David Coufal, 72, Angela Spiker, 57, Maria Miller, 5, Andrew Miller, 3, and Noah Driscoll, 3.
The National Transportation Safety Board is sending a team to conduct a safety investigation with state police, the agency said late Monday on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Schuyler County Coroner Terry Millslagle said the victims鈥� bodies were being transported to Springfield for autopsies.
The Rushville Fire Department, Rushville Police Department, Schuyler County Fire Protection District, Schuyler Ambulance and the Schuyler County Sheriff鈥檚 Department all responded to the scene and provided aid.