A morning field trip turned into chaos Friday when three school buses packed with elementary students slammed into each other in Chicago’s Hyde Park neighborhood — sending at least 32 people to hospitals.
Witnesses described a shocking scene as first responders swarmed the area near Midway Plaisance and Dorchester Avenue just before 10 a.m. “There were sirens everywhere, and kids were crying,” said a nearby resident who watched firefighters pull dazed children from the wreckage. “It looked like a war zone.”
The buses were carrying students and staff from Meadow Ridge Elementary School in Orland Park, according to the Chicago Fire Department. They were headed to a museum when tragedy struck — reportedly just minutes away from their destination.
Officials said 31 students and one adult were transported to several local hospitals. Most were described as being in good condition, though many were taken for evaluation out of caution. Paramedics could be seen treating children on sidewalks and loading stretchers into ambulances in video captured from the scene.
“We responded with a mass-casualty protocol because of the number of people involved,” a CFD spokesperson told reporters. “Thankfully, all indications right now are that the injuries are minor.”
Authorities have not yet determined what caused the multi-vehicle crash. Early reports suggest one bus may have braked suddenly, triggering a chain reaction among the others following behind. Chicago police are reviewing surveillance footage and interviewing drivers and witnesses to piece together what went wrong.
Parents raced to reunite with their children after getting emergency alerts from the school district. “When I heard it was my son’s bus, I froze,” said one mother who asked not to be named. “You send your kid on a field trip — you never expect this.”
The Orland School District released a brief statement saying all parents had been notified and that counselors would be available for students shaken by the crash. “Our first concern is always the safety and well-being of our students,” the statement read.
By early afternoon, tow trucks cleared the battered buses from the street as investigators marked tire tracks and debris. Despite the frightening images and dozens hospitalized, officials called it “a miracle” that no one was seriously hurt.
“This could have been much worse,” one firefighter said. “We’re counting our blessings today.”
For continuing updates on the Hyde Park bus crash, visit CBS Chicago’s coverage.
Discover more from
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.