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School bus stalls on tracks hit by train in Orland Park, no injuries
The Orland Fire Protection District (OFPD) responded to an emergency call Friday when a school bus stalled on railroad tracks at 167th and 109th Avenue in Orland Park and was hit by a METRA train.
Fire Chief Michael Schofield said that fast action by the bus driver prevented anyone from getting injured.
“The investigation we did shows the driver stopped at the tracks as required to do so, but when she started the bus to cross, the bus stalled with the front end of the bus over the tracks,” Schofield said.
“The gate came down on top of the bus and the driver then quickly escorted the five children off of the bus to safety minutes before the METRA train hit the front of the bus.”
Schofield said the accident occurred at 2:40 PM on Friday.
“When everyone does what they are trained to do, no one gets hurt. We are so grateful for that,” Schofield said.
METRA is conducting an investigation of the accident.
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Hanania was named "Best Ethnic American Columnist" by the New America Media in November 2007, and is the 2009 recipient of the SPJ National Sigma Delta Chi Award for column writing.
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