11 Children Injured in Bus/Garbage Truck Accident on May 2 on Route 13 near Carbondale, Illinois

State Police say a garbage truck collided with a day-care center bus after the truck's breaks failed.

A garbage truck collided with a day-care center bus this morning injuring 11 children. Illinois State Police say the accident occurred about 7:15am at the intersection of Route-13 and Spillway Road on the Jackson-Williamson county line.

Troopers say the garbage truck was west bound on Route 13 approaching Spillway Road. The bus was southbound on Spillway Road approaching Route-13. Troopers say the garbage truck driver, 29-year old Mason McCord, reports he swerved to avoid rear-ending other cars stopped at the intersection for a red light. The driver says the truck experienced a mechanical problem and was unable to stop. Troopers say the driver steered into the north bound turn lane, struck the curb and then crashed into the bus. The impact caused the the garbage truck to overturn. The bus was shoved to the northwest corner of the intersection. Trooper say the bus did not overturn.

Troopers say 11-children were injured. Those injuries ranged from very minor to non-life threatening. All were initially transported to a local hospital via ambulance. One child was flown to a regional hospital as a precautionary measure. One adult passenger on the bus had to be extricated and was taken to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. A second adult passenger received minor injuries.

The driver of the garbage truck, 29-year old Mason McCord of West Frankfort was injured and taken to a local hospital. Police ticketed McCord for failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash and improper lane usage and inoperable breaks. State Police say an investigation continues.