The driver of a passenger vehicle is dead following a collision with a Manhattan School District 114 school bus that occurred the morning of January 15.
The Will County Coroner’s office identified the driver killed in the crash as Makenna M. Maurisak, a 24-year-old-Manhattan woman, with final cause and manner of death pending toxicology reports.
The Chevrolet Malibu driven by Maurisak was traveling eastbound on Manhattan-Monee Road when, for unknown reasons, she lost control of the vehicle and crossed the centerline into the westbound lane where the school bus was traveling. The front of the school bus then struck the passenger side of Maurisak’s car, according to a report from the Illinois State Police.
The accident occurred on Manhattan-Monee Road just west of Kankakee Street shortly before 8:30 a.m., the Manhattan Fire Protection District reported in a press release.
The driver of the school bus and its 10 students from Anna McDonald grade school were transported to Silver Cross Hospital “out of an abundance of caution,” after being evaluated on-scene by fire district personnel, a release from the school district read.
Anna McDonald School serves approximately 400 second and third graders, and the bus was on its way to school. Anna McDonald School’s schedule has buses arriving at 8:20 a.m., with the school day starting at 8:40 a.m.
Parents of the students involved in the accident were contacted immediately, the school district reported. A formal follow-up statement was provided to the media later the same day.
No major injuries were reported among the bus’s occupants, aside from bumps and bruises.
The road was closed for several hours Thursday morning, while state police conducted an investigation into the accident.
Lincoln-Way Transportation handles all transportation for the Manhattan School District’s four schools.
Lincoln-Way Transportation reported the driver has been employed by the school bus company since November 2023 and is fully cooperating with the Illinois State Police as the investigation continues.
“Out of respect for the process and the privacy of those involved, the district is unable to address any additional questions. We extend our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the individual who lost life,” Lincoln-Way Transportation Director of Communications Jen Vujosevic said in a statement to The Vedette.
“Our hearts are with everyone impacted by this tragic incident,” said Supt. Dr. Damien Aherne.
“We are grateful for the swift response of our first responders and our school staff, whose priority was ensuring the safety and well-being of our students. We will continue to provide support to our students and their families during this difficult time,” Aherne said in a statement.
Manhattan residents have seen their share of fatal accidents on its rural roadways, especially in recent months.
The loss of Maurisak marks another major blow to the tight-knit community.
“This is a heartbreaking tragedy, and our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the driver who lost their life this morning,” a statement from Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen read.
This past fall, 13-year-old Chance Hunnicutt was struck and killed by a semi-truck while riding his bike, which hit the already-grieving community hard as it came days after the unexpected death of 11-year-old Danny Bayles, who died following a medical emergency on October 16.
On December 18, Diane Hopkins, 64, of Ohio, but with family ties in Manhattan and Elwood, and Joshua Villalobos, 35, of Elwood, both died in a head-on collision on Manhattan Road just a couple of blocks west of the Village of Manhattan in Elwood. That accident also sent two others to the hospital with injuries.
And, just before the New Year’s, 28-year-old Manhattan resident Victoria Stanek was killed on December 28 in an accident in neighboring Green Garden at Route 45 near Steger Road.
“These recent fatal crashes have occurred on roads maintained by the State of Illinois through IDOT, and the village has consistently pressed the state to address residents’ safety concerns, including meeting directly with state officials and IDOT on November 25,” Adrieansen’s statement continued, noting the safety changes recently implemented at the intersection of North Street (also known as Manhattan-Monee Road) and Route 52, which was the site of Hunnicutt’s accident.
“We will continue advocating for additional improvements to help prevent future tragedies,” Adrieansen wrote.
Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.