Two Adults, Three Children Died In Rushville School Bus Accident
Bus Accident - March 13, 2024
Illinois State Police Investigating Fatal School Bus Accident Involving Semi-Truck on U.S. 24 By Parkview Road
RUSHVILLE, ILLINOIS (March 12, 2024) – Two adults and three children have tragically died in a Rushville head-on collision between a school bus and semi-truck on U.S. 24.
Schuyler County officials are saying that the collision took place around 11:30 a.m. on Monday. A school bus reportedly crossed into opposing lanes of traffic before colliding with a semi-truck.
The crash caused both vehicles to become engulfed in flames. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims.
Sadly, three children and two adults died due to the severe nature of their injuries. It remains unclear how many other people were injured in the crash.
A full investigation into the Rushville school bus accident remains ongoing at this time. You can help support two of the affected families through GoFundMe.
Liability For Rushville School Bus Accidents
Far too many people are killed or seriously injured in accidents involving school buses every year. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “on average, about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year.” There are a number of steps that school districts should take in order to prevent bus accidents.
- School districts should ensure that their bus drivers are well-trained.
- School districts should ensure that bus drivers are medically fit to perform their jobs.
- School districts should implement and enforce safety policies for both drivers and bus passengers.
- School districts should plan routes that minimize risks. This will typically include limiting the number of left turns on any route.
Buses are considered “common carriers” and are held to strict safety standards set forth in the Common Carrier Liability Act (740 ILCS 25/). Their drivers must exercise a great deal of care in order to avoid collisions. Pursuant to (625 ILCS 5/11-701), vehicles must be driven on the right side of the road. If a driver enters opposing lanes of traffic and hits another vehicle, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.
A school district could also be liable for a bus accident. In general, companies are liable for the wrongful acts of their employees, insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. The company that manufactured a school bus could also be liable for a collision if there was a defect with the bus that caused a crash. It is important that certain steps are taken after any school bus accident.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records should be preserved.
- The police report for the collision should be reviewed.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
The vast majority of car accidents involve some amount of driver error. This may involve speeding or any number of other traffic infractions. The factors that could contribute to any school bus accident could take place hours, days, or weeks prior to any collision. It is therefore crucial that evidence related to any crash is properly preserved. The family of any person who died in a bus accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating Schuyler County School Bus Accidents
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to all of the families that lost someone in this Rushville bus accident. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all of the victims and their families.
Do you need more information about a Rushville school bus accident? Our team of bus safety advocates 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 a free, independent investigation into any incident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
