Two girls, sheriff’s deputy injured when squad collides with school bus

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Updated: January 27, 2012 2:44AM

Two girls received minor injuries and a Lake County Sheriff’s deputy broke his hand after a squad car collided with a school bus Thursday afternoon near Waukegan, officials said.

The girls — ages 11 and 12 — had bumps and cuts following the crash around 4 p.m. near Blackhawk Trail and Route 60. One girl received three stitches for a cut above her eye and the other girl had a bump to her head, officials said. Both were treated and released from a local hospital.

The injured deputy — a four-year veteran — suffered a broken left hand, a cut to the back of his head that required three stitches, and a cut to the front of his head that required five stitches, according to the sheriff’s office.

The deputy, who was responding to a domestic call, had his lights and sirens on when he travel to eastbound lanes, while attempting to pass traffic, officials said. But as the deputy approached Blackhawk Trail, a Fremont School District bus containing 44 students turned in front of him, sheriff’s office said.

The deputy was not able to stop and collided with the bus, officials said.

The crash remains under investigation and a sheriff’s office accident investigator was working to determine whether citations will be issued.

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