Fatal Crash Involving Willard School Bus

A teenage driver is dead after a crash on Highway 266 involving a Willard school bus.

The Highway Patrol says an S-U-V pulled from a parking lot and struck the school bus forcing it across the center line.

The school bus struck a pickup head-on before hitting a utility pole.

The 17-year-old girl driving the pickup died at the scene.

The Willard School District said there were no students on the bus at the time.

The driver of the S-U-V, 68-year-old Harold Budnovich of Springfield, and the bus driver, 52-year-old Katherine Lopez of Willard, were taken to Springfield hospitals.

Troopers say Budnovich had serious injuries, and Lopez had minor injuries.

Highway 266 was closed because power lines were down in the roadway.