Bus in Ill. crash made in 2011, inspected days ago

LITCHFIELD, Ill. (AP) - The bus that slammed into an Illinois highway pillar in a crash that killed one passenger and injured dozens of others was manufactured last year and passed a maintenance check days ago.

State police are investigating reports that a blown tire caused the double-decker Megabus to crash Thursday near Litchfield, about 55 miles northeast of St. Louis.

Megabus spokeswoman Amanda Byers said Friday that the bus was made by the Belgium-based manufacturer Van Hool in 2011. She says it passed a full preventative maintenance check within the past week.

Byers says the bus driver had surgery and his injuries aren't believed to be life-threatening.