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So just before bed time my wife notices a Facebook post from a neighbor that her husband, and orthopedic surgeon, has been called into work to deal with a school bus crash. Being almost 10:00 at night, my mind immediately thinks this is a high school sports team travelling to or from a game.

We turned on the TV to a local channel and programming had been superseded. There was someone on the TV telling the parents of Normal Community West Girls Basketball players to go to the high school for further information. While all of my kids were safe at home, I felt pretty bad for what the affected parents must be going through.

https://www.pantagraph.com/news/local/dead-after-unit-team-bus-semi-crash-head-on-on/article_b6dd9336-35cc-5cd9-afcd-f8126252d140.html#tracking-source=home-top-story

Quote:

Two men were killed and nine people injured late Wednesday when a semitrailer truck heading the wrong way on Interstate 74 collided head-on with a school bus carrying a Normal West basketball team.

State police said the semi driver and an adult male bus passenger died of injuries suffered in the crash that was reported at 8:32 p.m. at mile marker 137 on westbound I-74. That is about 2 miles east of the Main Street exit on Bloomington's south side.

"Unit 5 is devastated to share that Normal West volunteer Charlie Crabtree, age 72, died as a result of the bus crash tonight," McLean County Unit 5 officials posted on their Facebook page. "Please keep the Crabtree family and the entire Normal West Community in your thoughts."

State police identified Crabtree but did not release the name of the semi driver, a 34-year-old Iowa man, saying his next of kin had not been notified early Thursday. State police also said eight girls on the bus and a male bus passenger also were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening.

That was a rough one to see one the news.

So, how does a semi get going on the wrong side of an interstate and not know it? Makes it all that much harder for the families than a simple accident.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipper35 (Post 10274838)

So, how does a semi get going on the wrong side of an interstate and not know it? Makes it all that much harder for the families than a simple accident.

Dark, unfamiliar roads, tired driver (hopefully not impaired), driver with marginal intelligence, honest mistake by a good driver...any, some or none of this.

In the past, I've found myself going the wrong way on an unfamiliar one way. I bet it happens more often than most suspect.

Quote:

Originally Posted by flipper35 (Post 10274838)

So, how does a semi get going on the wrong side of an interstate and not know it?

How indeed. Professional driver and all.
A tragedy for all involved, but considering a semi hitting a bus head on, it's a miracle there were only 2 deaths.

Absolute miracle there was not more loss of life. Prayers for the families affected.