Illinois school bus crash victims identified: Five people, including siblings ages three and five, killed when vehicle plowed into oncoming semi truck and burst into flames

The five people, including three children, who were killed in a violent head-on collision involving a school bus and a semi-truck in Illinois have been identified.

The victims were named as 72-year-old David Coufal of Browning; 57-year-old Angela Spiker of Rushville; five-year-old Maria Miller and three-year-old Andrew Miller of Rushville; and three-year-old Noah Driscoll of Rushville.

Spiker’s brother, Scott Waterman, confirmed on Facebook that his sister was driving the bus when she drifted into the lane of an oncoming truck.

‘Lord God, please be with my family tonight as we deal with a terrible tragedy. We lost my dear little sister today,’ he wrote.

‘She was driving a small school bus and today she had 3 children on board, for some reason she drifted into an oncoming semi lane and they hit head on. There were no survivors.’

Angela Spiker, 57, was driving a Schuyler-Industry Schools bus with three children on board when she veered into oncoming traffic

The bus collided with a semi-truck driven by 72-year-old David Coufal. Both cars caught fire

The bus was traveling west on US Route 24 at Parkview Road around 11:30 a.m. Monday when it swerved and struck the truck driven by Coufal. Both cars caught fire.

The accident occurred in Rushville, a small town about 60 miles outside of Springfield. All five victims were pronounced dead at the scene, according to Illinois State Police.

“There aren’t really words at this point that can be said,” Schuyler County Sheriff Bill Redshaw said at a news conference Monday afternoon. ‘When you have a loss of life like this, it’s devastating.’

All three children on board the school bus were pre-K students at Schuyler-Industry Schools. The district posted a message to social media Monday afternoon.

“It is with heavy hearts that we announce that our school community has lost both staff and students in the traffic accident involving one of our school buses this morning,” the statement read. ‘Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and our community.’

School was canceled until and including Wednesday 13 March. The district plans to provide counselors and support staff for students and teachers.

Life Family Church in Virginia, Illinois launched a fundraiser to support the Miller family.

‘It is with great sadness that we have to bring this news to you today,’ the church wrote on social media. ‘Maria and Andrew Miller were in a fatal accident on their way to school.’

The accident also claimed the life of 3-year-old Noah Driscoll. All five victims were pronounced dead at the scene

The Miller siblings’ mother, Sarah, described them as ‘blessings’ on social media

‘Lord God please be with my family tonight as we deal with a terrible tragedy,’ Spiker’s older brother wrote on social media

All of the victims were Rushville residents, with the exception of Coufal, who came from the village of Browning

Life Family Church in Virginia, Illinois organized a fundraiser for the Miller family in the wake of the tragedy

The post urged members of the local community to pray for the siblings’ mother Sarah, who described them as ‘blessings’ on her own Facebook page.

Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly issued a statement urging community members to keep the families in their thoughts ‘as they try to heal.’

“Today’s crash in Rushville is something that no parent or family should have to face,” Kelly said. ‘Our hearts go out to the families involved and the community feeling this tragic loss.’

Rushville city officials asked residents and business owners to fly flags at half-staff to honor those killed in the crash.

Those without a flag were encouraged to leave a porch light lit to show support for the victims’ loved ones.