HIGHLAND, Ill. – Three people are dead and 14 injured after a Greyhound bus struck three tractor-trailers parked on the exit ramp to the Silver Lake rest area on westbound I-70 in the county of Madison, about 25 miles east of St. Louis. The accident happened shortly before 2 am
Greyhound confirmed to Spectrum News that the bus was traveling from Indianapolis to St. Louis.
What you need to know
Three people are dead and 14 injured after a Greyhound bus hit three tractor-trailers parked on an off-ramp to an I-70 rest area outside St. Louis
Greyhound confirmed to Spectrum News that the bus was traveling from Indianapolis to St. Louis
According to Illinois State Police, the dead and injured were on the bus
Greyhound says it is working to send an emergency bus to the area
“Three fatalities have been confirmed and many more were taken to hospital with serious injuries, four by helicopter and at least 10 by ambulance,” state police said in a news release.
Dawanda Parker of California was on a cross-country trip that started in Buffalo and was supposed to end in downtown Los Angeles. She told Spectrum News she was asleep in the back row when the accident happened.
“I just see a guy in front of me that’s collapsed… I have to make him go… but he won’t move.” She believes the man died in the accident.
Illinois State Police spokeswoman Melaney Arnold said all of the dead and injured were on the Greyhound bus.
“Multiple passengers, including our driver, have been taken to hospital. Our main concern is making sure we take care of our passengers and drivers at this time. We are working closely with local authorities and an emergency bus is on the way way for passengers,” says Greyhound spokesman Mike Ogulnick.
Parker and others rolled out a window and got off the bus. She was taken to a hospital with what she said was a broken rib, hip pain and glass in her eye.
At 11 in the morning, I was at the station of St. Louis from downtown Greyhound, waiting for their bags and a 5:45 p.m. bus to California.
Traffic on westbound I-70 is back open, but there could be some delays as crews work to clear the area.
This is a developing story, check back throughout the day for updates.
