Three Children, Bus Driver Among Dead in Illinois Crash

A small school passenger vehicle crossed into the path of a semi-truck in Illinois on March 11, resulting in a collision that killed the driver of the 2020 Ford cutaway, all three children aboard, and the driver of the tractor trailer, according to Illinois State Police investigators.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on Tuesday confirmed that a team is on the way to Schuyler County to investigate the accident, which saw both vehicles engulfed in flames after the wreck.

“Preliminary reports indicate the school bus was traveling east on Route 24 and for an unknown reason crossed over into the westbound lanes in front of the semi-truck,” the police stated in a news release.

The victims of the crash are identified as:

• David Coufal, 72.
• Angela Spiker, 57.
• Maria and Andrew Miller, ages 5 and 3, respectively.
• Noah Driscoll, 3.

In a statement posted on Facebook, officials from Schuyler-Industry Schools said:

“It is with a heavy heart that we announce our school community has lost both staff and students in the traffic accident involving one of our school buses this morning. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and our community.”

School was canceled Tuesday and Wednesday. The district made counselors and support staff available for students and teachers.