Illinois man hospitalized after school bus crash

An Illinois man was hospitalized and 12 students were treated for minor injuries after a Wednesday morning crash involving a school bus.

Randall Hunerkoch, 40, of Metropolis, Ill., was in serious condition at Saint Francis Medical Center in Cape Girardeau, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Dale Moreland.

All of the students sent to Saint Francis after a head-on crash with Hunerkoch's 2009 Ford Focus were treated for minor injuries and released by noon, hospital spokeswoman Emily Sikes said.

Nell Holcomb superintendent Darryl Pannier said the bus driver's name is being withheld until later. Pannier said the driver was sent to the hospital for evaluation but was later released.

Nell Holcomb school nurse Barb Kinder said she examined the 23 students who were in the accident but did not go to the hospital for treatment. She said she checked for bleeding and did a neurological assessment.

"There were a few that were visibly shaken and tearful," she said. "I'm imagining tomorrow I'll see more students with aches."

Kinder said she had been receiving calls from concerned parents and that some came to school just to hug their children.

"They just want to see them," she said.

The crash occurred shortly before 8 a.m. south of Nell Holcomb School on Highway 177. The highway was closed after the accident but reopened around 9:15 a.m. At 10 a.m. police took surveys to measure distances to determine how the accident occurred.

Moreland said no citations were issued at the time, though the patrol's crash team is investigating.

The East County Fire Protection District, the Cape County Private Ambulance Service and the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to the accident, in addition to the Cape Girardeau Fire Department.

Deborah Cain, 29, of Cape Girardeau was traveling behind the bus when the accident occurred. Cain said the Ford Focus crossed the center line and hit the bus.

"As soon as I yelled to the kids to see if they were OK, I jumped in the back of the window of the car to see if the driver was OK," Cain said. "He was still breathing when I got to him."

Pannier was also driving in his car near the bus when the accident occurred. While the moments after the collision were a blur, Pannier said, he feared the worst.

"You always hear of catastrophes and don't think it will happen where you are," Pannier said. "The best preparation doesn't prepare you for a disaster.

"I'd like to thank the Cape Girardeau Ambulance, Cape County Fire Department, East County Fire District and the highway patrol," he said. "They were true professionals and made a sad time bearable. Our kids were troopers and handled this well."

Matt Sanders contributed to this report.

bblackwell@semissourian.com

388-3628

abusch@semissourian.com

388-3627

Pertinent address:

6547 Highway 177, Cape Girardeau, MO