The driver of the semi that crashed head on with a school bus Wednesday evening is identified as 34-year-old Ryan E. Hute, of Delmar, Iowa.
Hute was about two-miles miles east of the Main Street exit on Bloomington’s south-side when the accident happened. He was apparently traveling the wrong way when he collided head on with the bus carrying the Normal West girls J-V high school basketball team.
The accident also killed 72-year old team volunteer Charles Crabtree. He was honored with a moment of silence at Thursday’s Normal West varsity volleyball match at Peoria’s Richwoods High School.
Hute was flown to a Peoria hospital immediately after the accident that happened about 8:30 p.m. He died about 11:15 p.m. The school bus driver and coach were also flown to Peoria. Both are recovering.
The eight team member where taken to medical centers in Bloomington-Normal with non-life threatening injuries.
The semi driver died of blunt force injuries. Toxicology tests are pending.