Car strikes school bus in Bartlett after driver falls asleep, police say

Schick Road in Bartlett was shut down for about an hour Thursday morning after a small school bus not carrying any students was struck by a vehicle whose driver had fallen asleep, authorities said.

The bus' driver, a 64-year-old woman, suffered what police called nonlife-threatening injuries in the collision, which occurred about 7 a.m. at the intersection of South Bartlett and Schick roads. A driver's aide on the bus was not injured.

Police said the crash occurred when Diane M. Huffman, 48, of Bartlett fell asleep behind the wheel of a 2010 Chevrolet Cobalt, disobeyed the traffic control signal at the intersection and then veered into the left turn lane, where she struck the small school bus.

Huffman, who was not injured, was cited for improper lane usage and disobeying a red light, police said. She will be assigned a future court date at the Glendale Heights Field Court, according to police.

Bartlett police shut down the eastbound lanes of Schick Road between Petersdorf Road and South Bartlett Road for approximately 20 minutes while investigating the crash.