Megabus Crash Kills 1, Injures Many

(Courtesy WICS / CNN)

LITCHFIELD, Ill. (WICS) — One person died and up to two dozen others were injured after a bus crashed into an overpass pillar in southern Illinois.

The wreck happened on southbound Interstate 55 near Litchfield, about 55 miles northeast of Saint Louis.

The Megabus coach line said the bus was heading from Chicago to Saint Louis and the injuries ranged from minor to grave.

Megabus said the bus driver was among the injured, but his injuries were not considered life-threatening.

State police described the emergency response.

“There were several victims, we set up a triage unit, along with the fire department and EMS personnel.  It was a very large scene, at any given time, the heat of the incident, there were probably no less than 60 emergency service personnel between police, fire, rescue, helicopter personnel, ambulance personnel.  It was a very large scene,” said Capt. Scott Compton of the Illinois State Police.

Megabus said the thoughts and prayers of its entire staff go out to everyone involved, particularly the family of the person who died.

She was a 25-year-old woman from India, sitting on the upper deck, above the driver.

As for the uninjured passengers, they were taken to a community center.  

Megabus said arrangements were being made to get them to their destinations.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

(CNN)