Illinois State Police say both the driver of an SUV and a small school bus were injured in a crash on Route 37 near the Game Farm Road in the Bakersville area south of Mt. Vernon Thursday afternoon.
Mt. Vernon Township High School Superintendent Chad LeCrone says the Durham Bus Service bus was taking home special needs students when the crash occurred. Only three students were still on the bus at the time of the crash, all of which did not require hospital treatment and were picked up at the scene by their parent or guardian.
While State Police reports are not yet complete, Jefferson Fire officials say the SUV appears to have crossed the centerline and sideswiped the side of the bus. After impact, the SUV left the road and landed upright on railroad right of way causing Union Pacific train traffic to have to be stopped for about a half hour. Tue bus continued to the other side of the road before stopping.
The names of the two drivers have not been released.
LeCrone says their plan for such an incident worked well. He reported the district’s transportation director immediatley went to the scene and parents were contact quickly to alert them to what happened.
State Police say Route 37 was closed for about two hours for investigation and cleanup.
