Double-Decker Megabus Crashes Downstate IL

[theaveragejoe]

LITCHFIELD, Ill. (CBS) – A double-decker Megabus, which was headed from Chicago to St. Louis, crashed into a concrete bridge support on I-55 in southern Illinois on Thursday.

The bus crashed into a concrete pillar supporting an overpass near mile marker 57 on Interstate 55 near Litchfield, about 50 miles south of Springfield.

Illinois State Police Trooper Mike Link said the crash happened around 1:20 p.m.

“Initial reports are saying that it was possibly a tire blowout which caused the crash,” Link said.

A passenger also told KMOV-TV in St. Louis that a tire blew out before the crash.

 

Megabus spokeswoman Amanda Byers said 81 passengers were booked on board the bus.

Authorities said at least 18 ambulance and six helicopters responded to the scene and took victims to the hospital.

Illinois State Police Spokeswoman Monique Bond said at least 25 passengers were hurt, some of them critically.

The bus originated in Chicago, and was headed for St. Louis, then Columbia, Mo., then Kansas City, Mo.

Some of the passengers who were unhurt were taken to a center in Litchfield, and the director of that center, Lynette Jones, said those passengers are pretty shaken up, “physically and emotionally.”

“We’re trying to get them stable,” she said.

Officials confirmed nine patients went to St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield.

 

 

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/08/02/double-decker-megabus-crashes-downstate/

[theaveragejoe]

1 Dead After Double-Decker Megabus Crashes Downstate

 

LITCHFIELD, Ill. (CBS) – One person was killed and dozens of others were injured when a double-decker Megabus headed from Chicago to Missouri crashed into a concrete bridge support in southern Illinois.

Megabus officials said the bus hit a pillar on Interstate 55 at mile marker 57 near Litchfield around 1:20 p.m. Thursday. Litchfield is about 50 miles south of Springfield.

One person died in the crash. State police identified the victim as passenger Aditi R. Avhad, 25, of India. At least two dozen others were hurt, some of them critically

 

Illinois State Police Trooper Mike Link said, “Initial reports are saying that it was possibly a tire blowout which caused the crash.”

Passenger Zaq Hall told WBBM Newsradio’s Steve Miller he heard a tire blow out.

“And I knew what (that) sounded like because on my ride up to Chicago two days ago (from Kansas City), there was a tire that went on that bus also. Same front tire,” Hall said.

Hall said it was “a really huge collision, and when I kind of came to my senses, I looked around and it was horrible. There were people in the aisles, laying there. Most people had some sort of blood on their face. It was pretty intense.”

 

Megabus said in a written statement more than 70 passengers were on the bus. The vehicle was manufactured in 2011 and had a maintenance check within the past week.

Illinois State Police said 30 Ambulances, five Helicopters and seven different fire departments responded to the crash from Montgomery, Macoupin, Sangamon, Christian, and Madison Counties.

The bus originated in Chicago, and was headed for St. Louis, then Columbia, Mo., then Kansas City, Mo.

Some of the passengers who were unhurt were taken to a community center in Litchfield, and the director of that center, Lynette Jones, said those passengers are pretty shaken up, “physically and emotionally.”

“We’re trying to get them stable,” she said.

In a statement, Megabus officials said, “The thoughts and prayers of our entire staff go out to the passengers involved.”

 

 

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/08/02/double-decker-megabus-crashes-downstate/