Suspect arrested after fleeing Bartlett crash with school bus

One man is in custody after police say he fled the scene of a crash with an Elgin Area School District U-46 school bus, which overturned the bus and injured the driver Thursday morning in Bartlett.

The driver of the otherwise empty bus suffered a head injury after the 8:55 a.m. crash at the intersection of Oak Avenue and Route 20 near Eastview Middle School.

Paramedics transported the female bus driver to St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates, and she is expected to be OK, said District Safety Coordinator John Heiderscheidt.

Initial reports indicated the driver of the second vehicle crossed the centerline of the roadway and struck the bus, Heiderscheidt said.

The man left his vehicle at the crash site and fled on foot, forcing police and school district officials to place Eastview Middle School, Independence Early Learning and Barlett Elementary into a secure building status.

Bartlett police and police dogs were assisted by air support in their search for the suspect, who was located less than a mile away on North Hale Avenue. Police did not have details of where on the block the suspect was located, but said he was found on the street.

Police apprehended the driver and gave school district officials the all-clear at 12:15 p.m., Heiderscheidt said.

Prosecutors with the state’s attorney’s office were meeting with Bartlett police late Thursday, but no charges had been filed.

Police are expected to release further information tonight once the charges are approved.

During the search for the suspect, students at the three affected schools continued their classes, but were not allowed outside.

School staffers immediately double checked the exterior doors, assigned staff to locations throughout the building, and refused entrance to visitors, Heiderscheidt said.

During the lockdown, the school district sent automated voice mail and email messages informing parents of the situation, and sent a second when the driver was arrested.

“When police say we should be in a secure building we act very quickly,” Heiderscheidt said. “We take these precautions very seriously.”