Friday afternoon traffic along Algonquin Road in Arlington Heights turned chaotic when a school bus and an SUV collided at Cedar Glen Drive, ending with the SUV engulfed in flames and a full emergency response on scene. Despite the dramatic visuals, authorities said no one in either vehicle was hurt, including the one student riding the bus. Police cited the bus driver, saying that the driver caused the crash, and crews shut down Algonquin while firefighters knocked down the blaze and cleared the wreckage.
Details from the scene
According to ABC7 Chicago, Chopper 7 captured aerial images showing the school bus with noticeable damage along its passenger side and an SUV that had been heavily burned after catching fire. The station reported that officers issued the bus driver a ticket at the scene and believe that the driver caused the collision. ABC7 Chicago also noted that the lone student on board the bus was not injured.
Video shows heavy fire, crews on scene
Aerial footage from NBC Chicago's Sky 5 showed firefighters with hoses stretched across Algonquin Road around 4:15 p.m. Friday, the roadway blocked as crews surrounded the burning SUV. The video captured the charred vehicle and the nearby school bus with visible passenger-side damage. NBC Chicago reported that no additional information was immediately available.
Investigation and legal next steps
Arlington Heights police are continuing to investigate the crash. Officers issued an on-scene citation to the school bus driver, but no further charges had been announced, according to ABC7 Chicago. The station reported that authorities had not publicly identified the bus operator or the school district involved. Tow trucks later hauled away the damaged vehicles, and traffic along Algonquin was restored once the scene was cleared.
Local impact
The crash shut down lanes on Algonquin Road for a stretch and sent ripple-effect delays through the northwest suburbs while firefighters and police worked the scene. No injuries were reported, but the incident is a harsh reminder of how fast an everyday fender-bender can turn into a full-on fire scene when a vehicle ignites. This story will be updated if Arlington Heights police or local officials release more information.
