1 killed in head-on collision with Illinois school bus
Jan. 15 (UPI) — The driver of a private passenger vehicle died after colliding head-on with a school bus Thursday morning in Manhattan, Ill.
The crash happened at 8:32 a.m. CST as the bus was carrying 10 students and a driver, all of whom were taken to a nearby hospital out of precaution.
Manhattan Fire Protection District personnel responded to the accident scene near the intersection of Manhattan Monee Road and Kankakee Road and medically evaluated all students and the driver at the scene.
No bus passengers sustained major injuries, but the driver of the private vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene.
Reports do not indicate if the passenger vehicle carried anyone other than the driver.
The bus belongs to the Manhattan School District, and all students and the driver were released from a local hospital by 1 p.m., school district officials said.
“Our hearts are with everyone impacted by this tragic incident,” MSD Superintendent Damien Aherne said.
“We are grateful for the swift response of our first responders and our school staff, whose priority was ensuring the safety and well-being of our students,” Aherne said.
“We will continue to provide support to our students and their families during this difficult time,” he added.
An investigation into the crash and its cause was underway.
Manhattan is about 45 miles southeast of Chicago.