Crime & Safety
Metra Train Crashes Into Stalled School Bus, No Injuries: Police
Officials said the bus driver saved the students inside the bus when it stopped on the train tracks at 167th Street and 109th Avenue.
ORLAND PARK, IL — Nobody was injured Friday afternoon after a Metra train hit a school bus while it stalled on the tracks, officials said.
According to Orland Fire Protection District officials, a bus driver for St. Michael's school stopped the bus at the tracks on 167th Street and 109th Avenue at around 2:30 p.m. As drivers are required to do, officials said she listened for trains and began to drive over the tracks when she did not hear one.
As the bus started to cross, "mechanical issues" caused the vehicle to stall with the front end over the tracks, police told Patch. The electronic gate came down on top of the bus and the driver quickly got the five children inside the bus out a few minutes before the train came and crashed into it.
Find out what's happening in Orland Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Fire Chief Michael Schofield said the fast action of the bus driver prevented the situation from ending in tragedy.
"When everyone does what they are trained to do, no one gets hurt. We are so grateful for that," Schofield said.
Find out what's happening in Orland Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Metra is investigating the crash.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
