11 Reed Custer Middle School Students Hospitalized In Channahon School Bus Accident
Bus Accident - May 22, 2024
Eleven Reed Custer Middle School Students Were Injured In Channahon School Bus Accident on The I-55 Smith Bridge Which Crosses The Des Plaines River
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (May 22, 2024) – Eleven Reed Custer Middle School students were injured when multiple school buses collided on the Interstate 55 Smith Bridge in Channahon.
Grundy County officials are saying that the collision took place around 8:35 a.m. on Tuesday. Three school buses were heading north on the 1-55 Smith Bridge when traffic began to slow.
The school bus in the back failed to stop in time and struck the school bus in front of it. This triggered a chain reaction crash that caused that school bus to hit another school bus.
Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims. A total of 11 students from Reed Custer Middle School were taken to local hospitals in order to receive care.
A full investigation into the Channahon school bus crash remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Channahon School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically very safe, but many people are still injured in school bus crashes each year. According to the NHTSA, “From 2006 to 2015 there were 324,710 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes. Of those crashes, 1,172 (0.4%) were classified as school-transportation-related. Between 2006 and 2015, there have been 1,313 people killed in school-transportation-related crashes—an average of 131 fatalities per year.” There are many reasons why school buses may be involved in accidents.
- School buses weigh substantially more than passenger vehicles and take much longer to stop.
- School buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of other vehicles.
- School buses have a wide turning radius and are more susceptible to side-impact collisions.
School buses are considered “common carriers” and are held to strict safety standards set forth in the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/). School bus drivers are required to receive specialized training and are expected to know how to operate their vehicles safely. To that end, bus drivers must constantly scan the road ahead of them and slow down in order to avoid hitting other vehicles. If a school bus driver failed to slow down in order to avoid causing an accident, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
The school district that owned or operated a school bus could also be held liable for a collision. Generally speaking, employers are vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. For example, a school bus driver may have been transporting children when they were involved in a crash. Victims of school bus accidents often suffer very serious injuries including:
- Broken bones
- Head injuries
- Lacerations
- Organ damage
Many of the injuries that a person may sustain in a school bus collision might not be immediately apparent. A number of victims sustain internal injuries, which can lead to more serious trauma if left untreated. This is why it is always a good idea to seek medical attention after any bus collision. It is also a good idea to seek the guidance of an experienced bus accident attorney after any collision. A bus accident attorney can examine the unique facts of your case free of charge and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Channohon School Bus Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all the Reed Custer Middle School students and their families affected by this collision. It is our hope that all of the victims will be able to make a full recovery. This was a preventable crash that should not have taken place. Any person who may have more information about what went wrong should reach out to the police.
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Channahon school bus accident? You may be entitled to financial compensation for your injuries. Our team of bus accident attorneys is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
