WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (TNND) — Two people, including a 10th-grade girl, were killed in a multi-vehicle crash involving a school bus early Monday morning.
The accident occurred shortly after 6 a.m. when the bus, carrying 39 individuals including 37 students, the driver, and the driver's daughter, was en route to Winter Haven High School. Authorities report that a white Chevrolet Malibu crossed the center line, striking the bus near its rear wheels, which caused the bus to collide head-on with a Jeep that subsequently caught fire. The driver of the Jeep was pronounced dead at the scene.
According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the impact ripped off a tire, leading to the bus overturning onto its roof. Five to seven individuals suffered potentially serious injuries, with one person listed in critical condition.
Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid noted that students are instructed on evacuation procedures during emergencies, emphasizing that the situation could have been much worse. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected at a press briefing on Tuesday.
Emergency services responded promptly to the scene. No further information regarding lane closures or tows has been released.