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CBS 2's Derrick Blakley, Dorothy Tucker, Kris Habermehl, Ed Marshall, Pamela Jones, the Associated Press and STNG Wire contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ― A Chicago firefighter is dead and three of his colleagues are hurt after a school bus hit their truck Friday morning in the South Side's Englewood neighborhood.

Around 8 a.m., firefighters were headed west on 59th Street, heading for a fire call in the 5600 block of South May Street, a little over a mile west. An Alltown school bus headed south on Wells Street hit the rear of the fire truck, causing its driver to lose control. The fire truck flipped onto its side.

One of the five firefighters in the truck, William Grant, 44, was killed in the crash. Grant, a father of three and a 20-year veteran of the department, had been driving the rig, according to fire Commissioner Raymond Orozco.

Three other firefighters were taken to three separate area hospitals with injuries. One firefighter was released from the hospital Friday evening and as of 10 p.m. Friday the other two remained hospitalized.

At least one witness said the school bus, which had no children on board, had a green light at the intersection of 59th and Wells streets. But investigators said the female bus driver, identified as 40-year-old Darlene Lewis, was speeding and did not yield to the fire truck.

"(The fire truck driver) did see (the school bus driver) as he tried to swerve away from her. He did see her coming, but she didn't stop," said witness Crystal Ross. "She hit the back of him, and that made him swerve, spin around, and they hit the pole over there, and that's when he came crashing back down on his side."

Another witness says the school bus driver's view may have been blocked by a semi truck pulled over on Wells Street near the intersection.

"There was a truck on the side of her that maybe interfered with her seeing the (fire) truck coming," said witness Linda Wilson.

"Like I say, it happened so fast, I don't know I just know that I saw the truck, it looked like it hit the bus, not the other way around," Wilson said.

Others say the fire truck sped through a red light, a violation of department procedure. Firefighters say they will wait for the investigation to tell what really happened.

The firefighters were trapped for a time and had to be pulled from the wreckage. Another witness, Jenal Patterson, said it was clear that some of the injuries were serious.

"They were really grief-stricken around here," Patterson said. "Me and my kids were standing on the corner and that's when I heard them saying they don't think he's going to make it."

Orozco held back tears as he addressed reporters, and firefighters across the city grieved.

"It may be some time before we have all the details on how this happened. For now we're dealing with the loss of one of our own, and helping family members deal with the loss of a loved one," Orozco said, "and like all firefighters and paramedics, Bill has two families – those who are related by blood and those who wear the uniform. This is a loss to all of us."

Grant was found under the rig, leading to speculation that he might not have been wearing a seat belt. At least one other crew member on the truck was also found underneath.

The truck involved was hook and ladder truck 51, which is relatively new and is based at a new fire station near the scene, a source familiar with the incident said.

Alltown Bus Service Chief Financial Officer Tom Vorndran said the company could not comment on the accident or the provide information about the bus driver due to the ongoing investigation.

But Vorndran did say the "accident this morning was very tragic. This is a very tragic loss and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved." He also said company officials were pleased that no children were involved.

The accident happened shortly after the bus had dropped off children at Sheridan Elementary School, which is about four miles north of the accident scene.

As of 11 a.m., emergency crews were on the scene trying to get the truck out of the intersection, and investigators and witnesses were trying to figure out exactly what happened and who was at fault.

According to the Secretary of State's office, Lewis has no convictions and has a clean driving record. The 2 Investigators discovered that Lewis has had six tickets since 1991. In 2004, she was cited for disregarding a yield sign and failure to reduce speed while driving an Alltown bus. She has no convictions -- all the tickets were dismissed.

Lewis suffered scrapes and bumps during the crash and was treated and released from St. Bernard Hospital. She has had her bus drivers license for more than 10 years.

Grant died at Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park. The other firefighters were taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Stroger Hospital of Cook County, and Mt. Sinai Hospital.

A fund has been set up for Grant's family at Prospect Federal Savings Bank. Donations can be made at any of the bank's locations in Worth, Oak Lawn or the Far South Side.

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