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Bus driver injured in Fremont District 79 school bus accident in Hawthorn Woods

No Fremont Elementary District 79 students were injured in a Friday morning school bus accident in Hawthorn Woods, school district officials said.

The driver of the bus was taken to a hospital for examination after complaining of back pain, said Margaret Van Duch, District 79's communication director.

The students on the bus were in kindergarten to fifth grade and attend Fremont Elementary and Fremont Intermediate schools, which are on the same campus on Fremont Center Road near Mundelein. Hawthorn Woods police said there were 29 students on the bus at the time.

The accident occurred at 8:35 a.m. at Gilmer Road and Hawley Street. The bus was traveling north on Gilmer through the intersection where it was struck by a car traveling east on Hawley, Van Duch said in a news release.

Southbound Gilmer Road was closed for about an hour during the accident investigation, Hawthorn Woods Police Cmdr. Gary Scharringhausen said.

The preliminary investigation indicates the driver of the car went through a red light and struck the bus, Scharringhausen said. Drugs and/or alcohol do not appear to be a factor in the accident, which is under investigation, he added.

The driver of the car suffered minor injuries, but was not taken to a hospital for treatment, Scharringhausen said.

The bus is equipped with shoulder and lap belts and the bus driver had encouraged all children to wear the safety devices that morning, Van Duch said.

Children on the bus were examined by Countryside Fire Protection District paramedics at the scene and no injuries were reported, officials said.

The children were taken to the school buildings where they met with social workers and psychologists about the accident, Van Duch said. A nurse assessed the children when they returned to school.

Parents were notified of the accident, and some elected to take their children home rather than continue the school day, she said.

“We are grateful for the collaborative efforts of the Countryside Fire Protection District and the Hawthorn Woods police department in effectively and efficiently working with our students and staff during this morning's bus collision,” District 79 Superintendent Jill Gildea said in a release. “The students were immediately assessed and gave a ‘thumbs-up' to personnel who were on-site. We also wish to thank the passers-by who stayed with our bus driver until emergency personnel arrived,”

No Fremont Elementary District 79 students were injured in a Friday morning school bus accident in Hawthorn Woods at Gilmer Road and Hawley Street. Police said 29 children were on the bus. Courtesy of Cindy Leonard
A Fremont Elementary District 79 bus was involved in a crash Friday morning at Hawley Street and Gilmer Road. Courtesy of ABC 7 Chicago
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