1 Dead, 2 Dozen Hurt in Illinois Bus Crash

A packed double-decker Megabus blew a tire and slammed into a concrete bridge support pillar on an Illinois interstate today, leaving at least one person dead and more than two dozen others injured, police said. A company spokeswoman said the bus was at full capacity, carrying 81 passengers, when it crashed near Litchfield on Interstate 55. It was en route from Chicago to Kansas City.

Numerous emergency vehicles could be seen on footage shot by a television helicopter flying above the bus, which sat with its crumpled front end smashed up against the bridge support as rescue crews climbed ladders to reach inside. Some passengers could be seen being tended to along the side of the interstate, which was shut down in both directions. At least four people were flown by helicopter to a trauma center. Another hospital treated more than 20 other patients. (More bus crash stories.)