Three children and two adults died after a school bus collided with a semitruck on U.S. Route 24 in Illinois on Monday, authorities said.
The fatal collision between the school bus and the semitruck carrying sand happened on the highway at 11:30 a.m., local time, in Rushville, Illinois State Police said during a press briefing. Preliminary reports indicate the bus was heading East on Route 24 and for an "unknown reason," crossed over into the Westbound lanes in front of the semi-truck, police said.
Both vehicles erupted into flames after the collision, according to authorities.
The school bus was transporting three children at the time of the crash. The three children, as well as both drivers, were pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.