Bus and Van Crash in Front of South Chicago Fire Station

April 23--A green van smashed into the side of a CTA bus at an intersection in the South Chicago neighborhood, killing the driver of the van and injuring three other people.

The crash happened about 12:45 a.m. at South Chicago and Commercial avenues in front of the fire station that houses Ambulance 9, Engine 46 and Truck 17, all crews that responded to the accident.

The van's driver was pronounced dead at Advocate Christ Medical Center. The other two occupants were both listed in serious-to-critical condition, police said. One was taken to Northwestern Memorial Hospital and the other to Christ hospital, police said.

The CTA bus driver was taken to Advocate Trinity Hospital for observation, police said. The bus wasn't carrying any passengers, police said.

The van was traveling east on 93rd Street and hit the bus near it's passenger-side back tire as the bus was nearly through the five-way intersection, police said.

Police taped off the intersection and blocked traffic from all directions. The van had major front-end damage and ended up on the sidewalk in front of a dry cleaning business.

The bus remained parked facing south on Commercial Avenue south of South Chicago Avenue, its front door open but nobody inside.

pnickeas@tribune.com -- Twitter: @PeterNickeas

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