An Illinois bus crash has resulted in injuries to 20 people, according to msnbc.com. The collision took place on the Dan Ryan Expressway northbound local lanes at 47th Street on Sunday around 6 PM.
Ambulances took the injured to area hospitals. 12 of the people hurt were in fair condition, and 8 were good condition. Another 31 passengers on the bus refused treatment. None of the injuries are supposed to be serious, according to representatives from the Chicago Fire Department. Those hurt were taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital, Mercy Hospital, Holy Cross, St. Bernard Hospital and University of Chicago Hospitals.
Once the fire department arrived they initiated an emergency response plan that sent 20 ambulances to the scene.
Northbound traffic on the expressway had to be temporarily closed, reopening around 7:30 PM. The Chicago Tribune is reporting that the incident involved the tour bus and two other vehicles. The bus was traveling behind the other vehicles, when for reasons not reported one of the vehicles spun out. This caused the tour bus to strike the vehicle and then hit a median. One of the vehicles fled the scene of the accident.
According to the Chicago Sun-Times, the bus was traveling to Chinatown from the Majestic Star Casino in Gary, Indiana. The casino bus is run by Royal Excursion of Mishawaka, Indiana.
One passenger on the bus stated that it quickly swerved, knocking people around. One elderly woman ended up on the floor and had to be removed on a stretcher by paramedics.
Bus accidents don’t happen often, but when they do it can be a very scary experience for all those on board. Passengers typically do not have the benefit of seat belts, which can lead to being thrown around the cabin, making them more susceptible to injuries.
According to IDOT, in the year 2009 there were a total of 2,528 bus accidents in Illinois (non-school bus related). In those collisions, 608 people were injured and seven were killed. Further, 2 of those killed and 576 of those injured were bus occupants.
As far as school buses are concerned, there were 1557 accidents in 2009 where 291 people were injured and 2 were killed. No school bus occupants died and 242 were hurt.
Statistics for the year 2010 have not yet been released.
It has not been reported if any Chicago bus crash attorneys are involved in the case or if any civil claims have been filed.