Names Released in Deaths of Route 32 Accident, Area Schools Wearing Blue Monday in Honor of Student Killed

Authorities have released the names of the two individuals killed in Friday afternoon’s crash along a rural stretch of Illinois 32 between a school bus and a sport-utility vehicle.

Sullivan Elementary School student Tyson Mendoza of Gays was pronounced dead at the scene as was the driver of the SUV, 56-year-old Lori Samples of Decatur. The bus driver was also injured in the crash.  

Illinois State Police said the crash occurred just after 3:30pm Friday, and said Samples had stopped at a stop sign and was proceeding across Illinois 32 when the southbound school bus transporting 11 Sullivan students struck her SUV’s driver’s side.

The intersection is the same location as in 2017 when a minivan struck a Teutopolis school district bus headed to a boys basketball game. No one was killed in that crash, but a number of players and coaches on the bus were injured.

There is also a regional effort for students to wear blue to school on Monday, September 30, in honor of Tyson Mendoza, who's favorite color was blue. Many area schools have shared the effort online.