WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (TNND) — Two people, including a 10th-grade student, were killed and several others were injured Monday morning when a school bus overturned in a multi-vehicle crash.
The incident occurred shortly after 6 a.m. when the bus, carrying 39 individuals—including 37 students, the driver, and the driver's daughter—was struck by a white Chevy Malibu that crossed the center line. According to POLK COUNTY SHERIFF GRADY JUDD, the Malibu hit the bus near its rear wheels, resulting in the bus colliding head-on with a Jeep that subsequently caught fire. The driver of the Jeep was pronounced dead at the scene.
Authorities reported that between five and seven people were transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, including one in critical condition. Polk County Public Schools Superintendent FREDERICK HEID emphasized the importance of student evacuation procedures in emergencies, stating that the situation could have been worse.
The bus came to rest on its roof in a ditch. The investigation remains ongoing, with further updates anticipated during a press conference scheduled for Tuesday.