Six Children Injured in School Bus Accident Near Rockford

November 23, 2010 - At least 6 children suffered personal injuries on Monday when their school bus was overturned by a powerful storm in suburban Rockford. According to a report at the Chicago Breaking News Center, deputies believe the bus may have encountered a tornado during a powerful thunderstorm that hit the Chicago area on Monday afternoon.

The school bus was traveling on Harlem Road shortly after 3 p.m. on Monday when it was blown over near the intersection with Argyle Road in Rockford. The school bus, which is operated by the Rockford Public School District, was transporting students home from school, although administrators could not identify which school the students were coming from.

There were 6 children on the bus and all suffered some sort of personal injury. The victims have not been identified, but authorities say they are all in middle school. The injured children are currently receiving treatment for their injuries at Memorial Hospital and OSF St. Anthony Hospital. All of the children are expected to survive. The bus driver, who has not been identified, was not injured.

The Rockford Public School District has deployed support personnel to assist the families of the injured children.