Crash between bus and semi causes fire, shuts down northbound I-294

A passenger bus was sitting on the shoulder of I-294 with a mechanical issue around 7 p.m. when a passing semitrailer truck hit the bus and caused both to catch fire, according to Berkeley Fire Department Chief Mike Kuryla.

The driver of the semi was taken to the hospital with minor injuries, but no one else was hurt, Kuryla said.

While fire crews were working to put the fire out, all four northbound lanes of the interstate were closed, causing a major traffic jam.

"My guess is it was backed up to Indiana," Kuryla said.

The fire wasn't bad, but crews had a tough time putting it out because of the lack of access to fire hydrants on the freeway, according to Kuryla.

Trucks had to keep rotating to fill up with more water and a ladder truck was sitting under the highway attached to a Berkeley hydrant, Kuryla said.

The fire took about an hour to put out, Kuryla said.

Two lanes were still closed as of 9 p.m. as crews continued to work to clear the site, according to the Illinois State Police.