UPDATED: Three Dead and 14 Injured in Greyhound Bus Crash on I-70 near Highland, Illinois
MADISON COUNTY — A tragic accident occurred early Wednesday when a Greyhound bus heading to St. Louis crashed on Interstate 70 near Highland, Illinois. The crash resulted in the deaths of three people and left at least 14 others injured.
According to the Illinois State Police, the crash occurred just before 2 a.m. on I-70 West along a ramp leading to the Silver Lake rest area. The incident took place west of Highway 160 in Madison County.
The Greyhound bus struck three tractor-trailers that were parked on the shoulder of the ramp, causing severe damage to the right side of the bus. Unfortunately, three individuals on the bus lost their lives. Ten injured passengers were airlifted to a nearby hospital, while another 10 were transported by ambulance. Fortunately, no one in the tractor-trailers was harmed.
Trooper Josh Korando of the Illinois State Police reported that the truckers had pulled off the highway to rest, and the tractor-trailers were lined up along the right shoulder of the ramp leading to the rest area. The rest area’s truck parking lot was already full at the time of the crash, which led to the tragic collision.
The Greyhound bus was en route from Indianapolis to St. Louis and was scheduled to arrive at approximately 2:20 a.m. Mike Ogulnick, a spokesman for Greyhound, confirmed that the bus was carrying around 30 people, including the driver. Ogulnick expressed the company’s primary concern for the passengers and driver and stated that they are working closely with local authorities. A relief bus has been dispatched to transport the unhurt passengers, and another bus will be sent to pick up those who were injured.
Details about the individuals who lost their lives and sustained injuries have not yet been released by the authorities. Investigators are currently examining the cause of the accident.
Eyewitnesses at the downtown St. Louis bus stop witnessed the passengers who survived the crash, many of whom were waiting for connecting buses. Edward Alexander from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, expressed his gratitude for surviving the accident. He shared his experience of sliding down the aisle and injuring his nose, as well as helping a pregnant woman escape through a window. Alexander recalled the chaos and smoke, prompting him to jump out of the bus. Although he lost all of his belongings, he was grateful to be alive. Another survivor, Edwin Brown from Friars Point, Mississippi, described the moments leading up to the crash and his injuries, suspecting that the driver may have fallen asleep.
Greyhound offered financial assistance to the survivors, but some, like Dawanda Parker, refused the money. Parker shared her disbelief and recounted the moment she woke up in the aisle and escaped through a window with the help of a fellow passenger. Despite the harrowing experience, she is determined to continue her journey to Los Angeles to see her children.
Reports reveal that the Greyhound bus involved in the crash is part of Greyhound’s BoltBus division. The fleet includes 1,046 vehicles and 1,132 drivers and has been involved in 69 crashes in the past two years. Investigations by the company and the Department of Transportation will follow to determine the cause of the accident.
The Department of Transportation’s report also highlighted that buses in the BoltBus fleet were inspected for hours of service violations 853 times in the past two years, resulting in 814 passing the inspections and 39 with at least one violation.
Karen Miller, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, expressed concerns for the well-being of the driver and passengers. Both Greyhound and the Department of Transportation will conduct thorough investigations into the incident.
The community continues to mourn the loss of the three lives and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured in this tragic accident.
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