LITCHFIELD, ILL. (AP) -- Illinois State Police have identified a native of India as the person who died in the crash of a double-decker Megabus crash that also sent dozens to hospitals.
Tropper Brad Lemarr says the passenger confirmed dead is 24-year-old Aditi R. Avhad. He says she is from India and was headed to Columbia, Mo., but he didn't know where she was currently living or from where she was traveling.
Earlier Thursday, Trooper Doug Francis said 38 people were taken to hospitals for injuries following the Thursday afternoon crash on Interstate 55 near Litchfield. Of those, 33 were taken by ambulance to hospitals, two were flown by helicopter to St. Louis hospitals and three were flown by helicopter to a hospital in Springfield.
Francis says investigators are trying to confirm a report that the bus blew a tire. He says a strong thunderstorm has made crash reconstruction at the site difficult.
The highway reopened Thursday evening. Before that, traffic was backed up for eight miles in each direction.
Officials from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration say they've been notified of the crash and will work with local authorities.
The crash may remind many in Central New York about a similar accident on the Onondaga Lake Parkway on September 11th, 2010. A double-decker Megabus slammed into the low railroad bridge killing four people. The driver was cleared on all charges in the case.
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