One Person Hospitalized in Rantoul School Bus Accident

Bus Accident - October 26, 2025

18 Students Were On School Bus Involved In Collision With Toyota by Champaign Avenue and Century Boulevard in Rantoul

One Person Hospitalized in Rantoul School Bus Accident

RANTOUL, ILLINOIS (October 26, 2025) – At least one person was hospitalized in a Rantoul school bus accident by the intersection of Champaign Avenue and Century Boulevard.

Rantoul officials are saying that the collision took place around 2:06 p.m. on Tuesday. A school bus was involved in a collision with a Toyota sedan.

The force of the impact caused the school bus to veer over a curb and into a parking lot. The school bus then proceeded to collide with an unoccupied Tesla.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the victims. One person was transported to the hospital to receive treatment.

The driver of the Toyota was cited for failure to yield.

Liability for Rantoul School Bus Accidents

School buses are considered common carriers, and their drivers must operate with an abundance of caution to avoid collisions with other vehicles. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-904, the driver of any vehicle approaching a stop intersection shall stop at a clearly marked line before entering the intersection. There is a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that goes past a yield sign without yielding. There are many factors that could contribute to any car accident.

  • Speed: Many collisions involve a speeding driver. What many drivers don’t realize is that even traveling the speed limit could be dangerous depending on the prevailing road conditions.
  • Driver Distraction: A number of collisions are caused by drivers that are distracted by their cell phones or even conversations with passengers.
  • Fatigue: Drivers are substantially more likely to be involved in collisions if they are fatigued. Staying awake for only 17 hours can reduce a person’s ability to operate their vehicle safely equal to driving with a BAC of 0.05%.

If a driver fails to slow down to avoid colliding with a bus or other vehicle, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Bus accidents are often complex events. It is possible that more than 1 driver could be held at fault. In certain cases, a city could bear some legal responsibility for a car accident if it was caused by a dangerous condition on public property.

Steps to Take After a Champaign County School Bus Accident

School buses are normally very safe. But many people are still injured in collisions with these vehicles every year. According to the National Safety Council, “School bus-related crashes killed 128 people nationwide in 2023, up 23% compared to the 104 deaths in 2022, according to National Safety Council (NSC) tabulations of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).” Certain actions should be taken after any accident with a school bus.

  • Medical Evaluation: Victims should seek a thorough medical evaluation. Injuries associated with a school bus collision may not be immediately obvious.
  • Police Report: The police should be called to the scene as early as possible so that they can begin an investigation.
  • Surveillance Footage: Car accidents at intersections are often captured by surveillance footage.
  • Legal Support: Victims of school bus accidents should seek the guidance of an experienced bus accident attorney. They may be entitled to pursue damages through a civil claim.

Bus accidents can be extremely disruptive to a person’s life. They may necessitate that victims take extensive periods of time away from work. Survivors may also be burdened with high medical bills. It is important for victims to understand that they do have legal rights. They should take some time to speak with an attorney and carefully consider all of their legal options.

Investigating Champaign County School Bus Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to all of the people injured in this Rantoul school bus accident. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.

Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a Rantoul school bus accident? You may have legal recourse. Our team of personal injury attorneys is here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that victims get the medical and financial support that they need to recover. 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.