Migrant Child Being Bussed Dies in Marion County

Marion County Coroner Troy Cannon says preliminary autopsy results on a three-year-old girl who died riding one of Texas’ migrant buses are inconclusive. The bus was traveling on Interstate 57 near Kinmundy Thursday when the medical emergency occurred.

Cannon said microscopic studies of tissue samples may provide a definitive cause of death. He reports more information may become available in the coming days but no further information will be released at this time.

Cannon says the girl was traveling with her parents en route from Texas to Chicago on a charter bus. She was born in Colombia and lived in Venezuela before entering the U.S. with her parents.

The Texas Division of Emergency Management said in an earlier statement once the child presented with health concerns, the bus pulled over, and security personnel on board called 9-1-1 for emergency attention. The agency said the child received treatment from paramedics and later died at a local hospital. The bus had departed from the Texas border city of Brownsville. All passengers had their temperature taken and were asked if they had medical conditions prior to departure.

Illinois officials said in a statement they were working with health officials, state police, and federal authorities "to the fullest extent possible to get answers in this tragic situation".