CHICAGO (CBS) — A new state police report confirms that a blown tire led to the fatal Megabus crash downstate earlier this month.

WBBM’s Regine Schlesinger reports, for the first time, the rookie driver who was behind the wheel is speaking publicly about the accident.

The police report indicates the bus, headed from Chicago to Missouri, crashed near Litchfield after the front left tire blew and the driver lost control and crashed head-on into a concrete bridge support pillar.

LISTEN: WBBM Newsradio’s Regine Schlesinger Reports

Although a young woman died, driver Preston Taylor of Harvey is credited with saving the lives of the others on board.

Taylor, who had just been hired in July and was still in training, tells the Tribune that as soon as he heard the tire pop, he tightened his grip on the steering wheel, took his foot off the gas and knew not to brake to keep the bus from rolling over.

An official told the paper that Taylor did a good job steering and likely prevented more deaths.

Since the accident, Taylor’s had three surgeries and faces at least two more for his injuries but says he’s looking forward to going back to work