GoFundMe set up for families of fatal crash in Rushville

RUSHVILLE - A GoFundMe campaign has been launched to support the grieving families with arrangements needed after a school bus transporting three preschoolers collided with a semi-truck on Monday.

According to police, the bus crossed over into oncoming traffic into the path of the semi carrying a load of sand. Both vehicles were involved in flames upon impact. Three young children along with the drivers of the school bus and semi-truck perished in the tragic accident.

The accident happened near Rushville, almost 135 miles due west of Champaign-Urbana and 57 miles northwest of Springfield at around 11:30 a.m.

The GoFundMe has been set up for the families of the three students to help cover funerals, medical bills and other unforeseen expenses. According to one news report, a meal train, designed to provide the students' families with home-cooked and delivered meals during this time has been established online while community members work together to support the victims' families.

Donations can be made via this link on GoFundMe.com. As of this article, 560 donors have contributed just over $40,000 in financial support to the grieving families.

The National Transportation Safety Board posted a message on 'X', formerly known as Twitter, Monday night announcing a team would be sent to investigate the incident with Illinois State Police.