NORMAL – A bus carrying a high school girls basketball team was struck head on by a tractor trailer on I-74 Wednesday night. According to the Illinois State Police they have confirmed two fatalities and multiple serious injuries requiring life flight helicopters. The students, all from Normal West High School, were returning from a game. Parents and family were asked to gather at Normal West High School. According to the school district there were 11 people total on the bus. All 8 students were transported to local hospitals with non life-threatening injuries.
The State Police say the bus was traveling west, when for unknown reasons a tractor trailer was traveling the wrong direction down the interstate and collided head on with the bus.
The driver of the tractor trailer, whose name has not been released pending notification of his family, died in the collision. State Police did release that 72-year-old Charles Crabtree of Normal, a passenger on the bus, was also killed.
The investigation is ongoing.
