Update (January 16, 2026): Authorities have identified the woman killed in this accident as Manhattan resident Makenna M. Maurisak, 24.

Will County, IL — January 15, 2026, one person was killed in a school bus accident at about 8:20 a.m. in the 13100 block of Manhattan-Monee Road.

Authorities said a sedan and a Manhattan School District 114 bus collided head-on near Schoolhouse Road.

The driver of the sedan, whose name has not been made public yet, died from injuries suffered in the crash east of Manhattan, according to authorities.

The bus driver and the 10 students onboard were taken to a local hospital to be evaluated after the crash, but authorities said no major injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Will County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When most people hear that a school bus and a sedan collided head-on, their first question is likely the right one: How does something like that happen in the first place? It’s a fair question, especially considering this happened on a weekday morning during school transport hours, when roads like Manhattan-Monee are often busy with commuting traffic and student drop-offs.

Authorities have said very little so far. We know the crash happened near Schoolhouse Road. We know it was a head-on collision. And we know the driver of the sedan died from their injuries, while the students and bus driver were taken to the hospital for evaluation. But that’s about all that’s been made public.

That leaves us with a lot of unanswered questions; and in a fatal crash like this, those gaps matter.

Was the sedan trying to pass another vehicle? Did the bus cross the center line? Was one of the drivers distracted? Did weather or road conditions play a role? Depending on the direction each vehicle was traveling, entirely different questions arise. For example, was the sun in one driver’s eyes? Was a curve involved? Did either vehicle attempt evasive action, or was this a direct, full-on collision?

These aren't just speculative questions. They point directly to the kinds of evidence that help get to the truth. Things like dash cam footage, cell phone records and vehicle data (like GPS or ECM logs) could show precisely where each vehicle was, how fast it was going and what the driver was doing in the moments before the crash. In a school bus, there’s also a chance of onboard surveillance video, which can sometimes provide a front-facing view of the roadway.

It's also important to look at the bus driver's history. Most school districts have policies for vetting and training their drivers, but how rigorous those policies are varies widely. Was the driver properly screened? Are there prior complaints or incidents on record? Did the district have up-to-date safety protocols in place?

I'm not suggesting the bus driver did anything wrong, but I'm also not assuming the sedan driver did either. What matters is that someone takes a hard, evidence-based look at all the facts. The only way to truly understand who’s responsible is through a thorough investigation that doesn’t stop at the crash scene but digs into everything that led up to it.

Key Takeaways:

• A head-on crash raises immediate questions about lane positioning and possible driver error on either side.
• It’s not yet clear which vehicle crossed into the opposing lane, or why.
• Crucial evidence may include dash cam video, ECM data, cell phone records and driver histories.
• School bus policies and driver training standards may also need scrutiny if fault lies with the bus.
• The truth of what happened won’t be found in assumptions. It requires a full investigation backed by verifiable data.