Gibson City, IL – One person is dead and three others are injured after a passenger car collided with a school bus carrying 20 students Saturday morning near Gibson City, Illinois State Police said.
According to Illinois State Police Troop 5, troopers responded at approximately 8:38 a.m. Saturday to the crash on Illinois Route 9 at Ford County Road 1000E near Gibson City.
Preliminary information indicates the passenger car was traveling on 1000E Road when it allegedly failed to yield and entered Route 9 in front of the school bus, causing the bus to strike the car, state police said.
One occupant of the passenger car was confirmed dead. Three additional occupants were injured, though police did not immediately provide information about the severity of their injuries.
The Hoopeston School District bus was transporting 20 students on the Hoopeston Middle School softball team at the time of the collision.
All students aboard the bus were taken to area hospitals following the crash. Initial reports did not indicate any serious injuries among the students, according to state police.
The collision also triggered a significant traffic closure in Ford County. Police said traffic near Illinois Route 9 and 1000E Road would remain closed until further notice while investigators worked at the scene.
Drivers traveling through the Gibson City area should seek an alternate route and avoid the intersection until authorities reopen the roadway.
State police described the investigation as active and said additional information will be released when available. No further details about the person killed or the other injured occupants were immediately announced.
