NATIONAL NEWS

3 children and 2 adults die after school bus collides with semi in Illinois, authorities say

Mar 11, 2024, 1:58 PM | Updated: 2:26 pm

RUSHVILLE, Ill. (AP) — Five people, including three children, were killed Monday after a school bus and semitruck collided on a highway in western Illinois, authorities said.

The bus was traveling eastbound on Illinois Route 24 when it crossed the center line into the westbound lanes “for an unknown reason” and into the path of a semitruck carrying sand, Illinois State Police Troop 6 Captain Jody Huffman said at a news conference. Both vehicles were set ablaze in the crash. The crash happened around 11:30 a.m. in Rushville, a community of about 3,000 roughly 60 miles (96.56 kilometers) west of Springfield.

All four people aboard the Schuyler-Industry Schools bus — three children and the driver — as well as the driver of the semitruck, were killed.

“There’s not really words at this time that can be said,” Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Redshaw told reporters. “When you have a loss of life like this, it’s devastating.”

He said the tragedy hit the small, close-knit community particularly hard.

Schuyler-Industry Schools canceled classes Tuesday and Wednesday because of the crash.

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce our school community has lost both staff and students in the traffic incident involving one of our school buses this morning,” the school district said in a statement. “Out of respect for everyone involved, no names or further information will be released at this time.”

The cause of the crash remained under investigation Monday afternoon. The names of the victims have not yet been released.

Schuyler County Coroner Terry Millslagle said the victims’ bodies were being transported to Springfield for autopsies.

National News

Associated Press

A list of mass killings in the United States this year

The latest mass killing in the U.S. happened Sunday in Wichita, Kansas, after police found the bodies of four people and the suspected shooter inside three separate homes. It is the country’s 34th mass killing this year, according to a database maintained by The Associated Press and USA Today in partnership with Northeastern University. Wichita […]

10 minutes ago

FILE - President Donald Trump, center, sits with retired Army Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, right, at Tru...

Associated Press

Trump is likely to name a loyalist as Pentagon chief after first-term tumult

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for defense secretary is still up in the air, but it is a sure bet he will look to reshape the Pentagon and pick a loyalist following his tumultuous first term. Five men held the job as Pentagon chief only to resign, be fired or serve briefly as […]

35 minutes ago

mattel wicked...

Associated Press

Mattel says it ‘deeply’ regrets misprint on ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging that links to porn site

A packaging error on Mattel's “Wicked” movie-themed dolls mistakenly links toy buyers to a pornographic website.

49 minutes ago

Stephen Miller speaks before Republican presidential nominee former President Donald Trump at a cam...

Associated Press

Trump names Stephen Miller to be deputy chief of policy in new administration

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is naming longtime adviser Stephen Miller, an immigration hard-liner, to be the deputy chief of policy in his new administration. Vice President-elect JD Vance posted a message of congratulations on Monday to Miller on X and said, “This is another fantastic pick by the president.” The announcement was first […]

54 minutes ago

FILE - Cynthia Erivo, left, and Ariana Grande arrive at the premiere of "Wicked" on Nov. 9, 2024, a...

Associated Press

Mattel says it ‘deeply’ regrets misprint on ‘Wicked’ dolls packaging that links to porn site

NEW YORK (AP) — Toy giant Mattel says it “deeply” regrets an error on the packaging of its “Wicked” movie-themed dolls, which mistakenly links toy buyers to a pornographic website. The error gained attention on social media over the weekend, where numerous users shared photos of the URL printed on the back of the boxes […]

1 hour ago

Associated Press

Suspected shooter and four others are found dead in three Kansas homes, police say

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Five people were found shot to death inside three homes in the same area of Wichita, Kansas, and police believe the shootings are connected. Police Chief Joe Sullivan said one of the people found dead Sunday was the suspected shooter, but he declined to elaborate. Police believe all five knew each […]

1 hour ago

3 children and 2 adults die after school bus collides with semi in Illinois, authorities say