At Least 14 Injured In Shuttle Bus Crash Outside Chicago Airport

At least 14 people were injured when a shuttle bus traveling to Chicago O'Hare International Airport slammed into a concrete barrier Friday.

A firefighter on his way to work at the O'Hare fire station happened to be just two cars behind the crash, which occurred at about 6:30 a.m. local time, NBC Chicago reports. He and another firefighter immediately helped passengers and rescued the shuttle bus driver who had been pinned in by the wreckage, the outlet notes.

Some of the injured passengers were seen lying on the sidewalk as they received treatment, according to WGN. Of the at least 14 people injured, four were listed in serious-to-critical condition.

"People were thrown around the bus," Chicago Fire Chief Timothy Sampey told NBC Chicago. "Some were more critical than others."

ABC Chicago reports 16 ambulances were called to the scene while emergency crews hurried to clear the debris from the bus crash during what travel officials expected to be the busiest travel day of the Labor Day holiday weekend.

With the crash blocking the entrance to O'Hare, cars piled up on Interstate 190, prompting passengers to bail from cars and walk to the terminals in hopes of catching their flights.