The bus was traveling from Indianapolis to St. Louis and had about 30 people on it, including the driver, Greyhound said.
Three people were killed and at least 14 others were injured when a Greyhound bus crashed into tractor-trailers parked on the side of the highway in southern Illinois early Wednesday, authorities said.
The incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. on the westbound side of Interstate 70 in Madison County, Illinois State Police said.
An initial investigation “indicates a Greyhound passenger bus with passengers was traveling westbound on Interstate 70 and struck three commercial motor vehicles parked on the exit ramp to the Silver Lake Interstate 70 westbound rest area,” state police said in a statement.
“Three fatalities are confirmed and multiple others were taken to a hospital with serious injuries, four by helicopter and at least 10 by ambulance,” the statement said.
State police spokesperson Melaney Arnold said all of the victims were on the bus.
State police on Thursday identified the three deceased. They are Juan Vasquez-Rodriguez, 34, of Passaic, New Jersey; Buford Paya, 71, of Supai, Arizona, and Bradley Donovan, 47, of Springfield, Illinois.
Greyhound said in a statement Wednesday that the passenger bus, schedule number 1675, was traveling from Indianapolis to St. Louis.
“Multiple passengers, including our driver, have been transported to the hospital,” it said. “Our primary concern is ensuring we care for our passengers and driver at this time. We are working closely with local authorities.”
The crash closed westbound lanes and a ramp to the rest area until about noon Wednesday, state police said in a tweet.
Photos and TV video show the side of the bus peeled open, its roof crumpled.
Greyhound spokesperson Mike Ogulnick told The Associated Press that the bus was scheduled to arrive in St. Louis about 2:20 a.m. It was carrying about 30 people, including the driver, he said.
Another bus was sent to transport passengers who were not hurt, Ogulnick said.
In Illinois, it is illegal for trucks to park on exit ramps. But trucking industry experts say tractor-trailers often stop there because overnight parking can be hard to find at rest stops and truck stops.
Source: Nbc News
