Three Injured in School Bus, Squad Car Crash

Lake County sheriff's deputy was responding to domestic disturbance call

A Lake County Sheriff’s deputy broke his hand and suffered cuts and bruises after colliding with a school bus full of 44 children as he responded to a domestic dispute near north suburban Waukegan Thursday afternoon.

The crash also left two young girls -- ages 11 and 12 -- with bumps and cuts, the Lake County Sheriff’s office said.

The crash happened about 4 p.m. near Blackhawk Trail and Route 60. A sheriff’s deputy was en route to a domestic in progress call and heading west on Route 60 near Round Lake.

He had his lights and sirens running when he proceeded into the eastbound lanes, while attempting to pass traffic. But as the deputy approached Blackhawk Trail, a Fremont School District full sized bus turned in front of him, a sheriff’s office release said.

The deputy wasn’t able to stop and collided with the bus, the release said.

Deputies learned two adults and 44 children were aboard the bus. A 12-year-old girl sustained a cut above her eye and was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville where she received three stitches. An 11-year-old girl sustained a bump to her head and was also taken to Condell, the release said. Both girls were treated and released.

The deputy -- a four-year veteran -- suffered a broken left hand, a cut to the back of his head that required three stitches, and a cut to the front of his head that required five stitches, the release said.

School district authorities sent another bus to the scene to take the children home. The driver of the bus, a Round Lake woman, was not injured in the crash.

The crash remains under investigation and a sheriff’s office accident investigator is working to determine whether citations will be issued.

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