2 dead when wrong-way truck hits bus carrying Illinois girls basketball team

Two people have died following a collision Wednesday night between a truck heading the wrong way and a school bus, officials say. (AP)

A 72-year-old high school girl's basketball volunteer was among two people killed Wednesday night when a school bus collided head-on with a wayward truck on Interstate 74 in Illinois, officials said.

The 34-year-old male driver of the truck, which was traveling in the wrong direction, was also killed. His name was not immediately released.

Charlie Crabtree, a volunteer for the Normal West High School squad, was identified by the McLean County School District as one of those killed in the crash late Wednesday in McClean County.

Police added all eight members of the basketball team were being treated for non-life threatening injuries and three adults were transported by helicopter to local hospitals.

The Normal West team was on its way back from a road game in Champaign and the front end of the bus was severely damaged in the crash, according to WEEK.

McLean County is about a two-hour drive southwest of Chicago.

Dayna Brown, a spokeswoman for the district, told the Associated Press that it would remain open Thursday with counselors on hand for students and faculty.

"People care about each other in this school and this community, and I think they just wanted to be together during this horrible tragedy," she said.