Manhattan Woman Killed, Students Uninjured in Head-On School Bus Crash

Article Summary: A 24-year-old Manhattan woman died Thursday morning after her vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with a Manhattan School District 114 bus. While the driver of the sedan was pronounced dead at the scene, all 10 students and the bus driver were transported to area hospitals for evaluation and released later that day.

Fatal Crash Investigation Key Points:

• Victim Identified: The Will County Coroner’s Office identified the deceased driver as Makenna M. Maurisak, 24, of Manhattan.

• Crash Details: Illinois State Police report the Chevrolet Malibu crossed the center line and struck the westbound school bus head-on.

• Student Safety: Ten students and the bus driver were transported to hospitals as a precautionary measure but suffered no major injuries.

• Conditions: Troopers noted snow and icy conditions at the scene, though the official cause of the crash remains under investigation.

MANHATTAN — A 24-year-old Manhattan woman was killed Thursday morning, Jan. 15, 2026, when her vehicle crossed the center line and collided head-on with a school bus transporting students from Manhattan School District 114.

The crash occurred at approximately 8:25 a.m. in the 13100 block of Manhattan-Monee Road, near the intersection with Kankakee Road. The Manhattan Fire Protection District responded to the scene to find a collision involving the bus and a passenger vehicle.

The Will County Coroner’s Office identified the driver of the passenger vehicle as Makenna M. Maurisak, 24, of Manhattan. She was pronounced dead at the scene at 11:35 a.m. An autopsy was scheduled for Friday.

According to preliminary reports from the Illinois State Police, Maurisak was driving a Chevrolet Malibu eastbound on Manhattan-Monee Road when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle crossed the boundary line. The sedan struck the front of the westbound school bus, hit the bus’s passenger side, and rolled over. Both vehicles came to rest in a ditch.

The bus was transporting 10 students and a driver at the time of the collision. Emergency crews evaluated all occupants at the scene. While no major injuries were reported, authorities transported all children and the bus driver to area hospitals for precautionary evaluation due to the severity of the accident.

School district officials responded to the scene to assist with student care and reunification efforts, and all parents and guardians were contacted. Officials confirmed that the students and the driver were released from the hospital in good condition on Thursday afternoon.

Illinois State Police troopers noted the presence of snow and icy conditions at the scene, though authorities stated the exact cause of the crash remains unknown as of Friday afternoon.

Manhattan-Monee Road, specifically between Schoolhouse Road and Cedar Road, was closed for several hours Thursday to allow for the investigation and crash reconstruction. The investigation by the Illinois State Police is ongoing.