Updated: Community Service Police Officer Struck By Bus

Updated 4 p.m.: "It was an truly just an unfortunate accident," said Vince Murray, principal of Prairieview School. "The police and the rescue personnel did a great job with a quick response to the scene and providing help to the Community Service Officer."

Murray said that getting onto Route 120 at any time of day can be challenging.

"It is a congested road and it is getting even more so," Murray said. The accident was not caused by congestion but the congestion creates the need for traffic assistance at the entrance to the school.

"We are hoping that the officer has a speedy recovery," Murray said.

Original Story 9:55 a.m.:

A Community Service Officer directing traffic near Prairieview School was struck by a small daycare bus yesterday, according to the .

The incident happened in front of Prairieview School, 103 E. Belvidere Rd. (Route 120) in Hainesville at 2:20 p.m. Nov. 29. Police are not releasing the name of the 59-year-old Community Service Officer, or CSO.

"Our CSO was out doing traffic detail to help the busses leave the school, as usual," said Matt McCutcheon, Interim Chief of Police. "The officer had her back towards the bus to direct traffic. The bus was turning left or westbound onto Route 120."

As the small, white bus was turning, one of the mirrors on the bus struck the CSO in back of the head.

"The impact caused the officer to fall forward, striking her head on the pavement," McCutcheon said. "She broke her nose and fractured both wrists in the fall. She required stitches and three lacerations on her face. But her injuries are not life-threatening and fortunately her condition is stable."

McCutcheon said a "Good Samaritan" who was driving by stopped to help.

"He was an ex-military guy with EMT training who assisted the officer who was down in the middle of the road," McCutcheon said. "He did a great job. The bus driver also remained on the scene."

The incident caused long delays on Route 120 during early rush hour as traffic was stopped in both directions. There was only one student on the bus at the time of the accident. Neither the student nor the bus driver were injured, McCutcheon said.

The Round Lake Area Firefighter/Paramedics transported the victim to the Condell Medical Center in Libertyville.

"We are hoping that the injuries turn out to be not serious and that she fully recovers," McCutcheon said Wednesday morning.

The CSO typically provides traffic assistance twice a day, in addition to various other duties.

McCutcheon said the CSOs who direct traffic take several safety precautions, such as wearing bright florescent traffic vests, setting out traffic cones and activating the flashing lights on their vehicle. Unfortunately, none of those steps prevented this injury. 

"This was an accident," McCutcheon said. "It doesn't appear to be a gross violation of any traffic laws, but our investigators need to look at things before any tickets would be issued."

CORRECTION: The article has been corrected to show that the bus involved in the accident was not a yellow school bus, but a small, white daycare bus. Patch regrets the error.