Antioch man dies in crash involving Central school bus

Kenosha County Sheriff David Beth explains a Friday morning bus crash, which left an Antioch man dead, and three Westosha Central students with minor injuries at a news conference in Kenosha (Jason Arndt/The Report).

Three students suffer minor injuries, school said

By Jason Arndt
Editor

An Illinois man is dead and three Westosha Central High School students inside a school bus suffered minor injuries after a Friday morning crash in the 24500 block of Wilmot Road.

The crash happened when the bus carrying 19 children stopped to pick up a student along its route around 7 a.m.

As the student sat down, a van reportedly driven by a 21-year-old Antioch man traveling westbound rear-ended the bus, which in turn, killed him.

He was pronounced dead at the scene by the Kenosha County Medical Examiner.

“From the pictures I have seen on the accident, it would appear that the van was traveling probably at the speeds of the road,” Sheriff David Beth said at a Friday afternoon news conference in Kenosha.

The posted speed limit is 55 mph on Highway C, which closed between Highway 83 and 258th Avenue while authorities investigated the crash.

“It was a work van, it had a granite or another countertop in the back of it,” Beth said. “It slide into the back of the bus, and the engine compartment went under the back bumper of the bus.”

Along with Salem Lakes Fire and Rescue, four other departments responded to the scene, where students received transportation to the fire station in Trevor.

Meanwhile, as rescue personnel responded, Westosha Central immediately alerted parents of the crash and sent two faculty members to the fire station to offer support to students.

“Our Associate Principal, Peter Haubrich and Guidance Counselor Keith Olsen were on site working with students and parents when parents came to pick up students at the fire station,” District Administrator Scott Pierce states in an email.

Beth, whose daughter attends Westosha Central, but does not use the bus, said the crash triggered his parental instincts.

“As soon as I heard it on the radio, the police senses and the parent senses kicked in,” he said. “My daughter goes to Central High School and shortly after the accident, parents got the call notification right away.”

Beth credited the school’s response.

Pierce said two of the 19 students involved in the crash reported to classes Friday.

Pending notification of family, the identity of the driver has not been released.


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