A child was injured after a far west suburban school bus struck a utility pole and landed in a ditch Monday afternoon, with live power lines briefly trapping the the driver and students amid a winter weather advisory that brought slick, snowy roads.
About 4:33 p.m., crews with the Nunda Rural Fire Protection District responded to Colby Point Road and South Justen Road in unincorporated McHenry County for reports of a school bus crash. When emergency personnel arrived on scene, they found a full-sized school bus in a ditch, with downed power lines nearby and stressed power line hanging above.
A driver and two children, between the ages of four and six were aboard the bus when it crashed, officials said in a release, with firefighters initially keeping them on board until ComEd could safely secure power. Just before 5:30 p.m., those onboard were safely removed, authorities said.
One child was transported to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, the fire district said. Another child was released to their parents at the scene. The driver was uninjured.
Photos provided by the Nundra Rural Fire Protection District show a large yellow school bus from McHenry School Districts 15 & 156 halfway tipped over on the side of an icy, snowy road. Visible damage could be seen to the front of the vehicle and a utility pole, with power lines hanging down.
“We were nearly positive the live wires were not an immediate hazard, but out of an abundance of caution we kept the occupants on the bus until the power was confirmed to be fully secured,” Nunda Rural Fire Protection District Fire Chief Mike Keenan said in a release. “Our priority was making sure everyone stayed safe while we managed the scene. Given the circumstances, this was the best possible outcome. We also appreciated the representatives from the school district who came to the scene, stayed engaged, and worked collaboratively with our crews throughout the incident.”
NBC Chicago has reached out to McHenry School District 15 and 156 for more information.
The crash remains under investigation by the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office, the fire protection district said.
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