McLEAN CO., Ill. - Two men were killed yesterday evening in a head-on collision involving a semi and a school bus, Illinois State Police in District 6 said last night (Wednesday, December 5) at around 8:30 p.m.
Preliminary reports indicate that a blue 2010 Kenworth truck tractor semi-trailer, being driven by a 34-year-old male from Iowa,was traveling eastbound in the westbound lanes on Interstate 74 in McLean County.
The school bus was traveling westbound at the same location. The two vehicles struck head-on. The bus was loaded with passengers (11 in all, with eight being athletes) as it was transporting the Normal West High School Junior Varsity girls basketball team from a game at Champaign Central.
A volunteer for the team, Charles Crabtree, 72, was killed in the impact. Four students were taken to a medical center in Bloomington; their conditions were listed as good. Three adults were taken to a hospital in Peoria, with two in serious condition and one in critical condition. Others among them were taken to a medical facility in Normal, but ISP didn't list how many, nor their conditions.