Monday, May 14, 2012

Illinois State Police - Press Release



ILLINOIS STATE POLICE
Hiram Grau - Director
NEWS


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
Date:  May 14, 2012
Trooper D. Francis
Time:  7:39 p.m.
217.324.4900 x223 - Office


School Bus Crash on I-55 Near Litchfield

Correction.  Uninjured students have been taken to their home school, Grant Fork Upper Elementary School.  It is up to the parents to take their children to the hospital to be checked out..


At 4:34 PM this afternoon, a bus carrying 33 students and driver was involved in a motor vehicle accident on Interstate 55 on the southbound lane near milepost 57.  The school bus rear ended a semi-truck that had stopped/slowed for a construction zone traffic.  Ten injured people, including the bus driver, were transported from the scene to either St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield and Hillsboro Area Hospital.  One student was airlifted by Arch helicopter to Cardinal Glennon Hospital in St. Louis.  The uninjured students were transported back to Grant Fork School.  

Ambulances from the following departments and agencies were dispatched to the scene:  Litchfield Fire Department, Raymond/Harvel Ambulance Service, Gillespie Fire Department, Hillsboro Area Ambulance Service, Dunn’s Ambulance Service in Carlinville, Nokomis/Witt Area Ambulance Service, Farmersville Ambulance Service, and Staunton Fire Department.

The following Fire Departments were dispatched to the scene:  Litchfield Fire Department, Raymond/Harvel Fire Department, and Mt. Olive Fire Department.  

Due to crash investigation I-55 Southbound from exit 60 to exit 52 (Litchfield) will be closed for and extended period.


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One Driving Fatality is One too Many and the Illinois State Police is Committed to Driving Zero Fatalities a Reality