WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (TNND) — Two people, including a 10th-grade girl, were killed in a school bus crash early Monday morning.
The incident occurred shortly after 6 a.m. when a white Chevy Malibu crossed the center line and struck the school bus, which was carrying 39 individuals—37 students, the driver, and the driver's daughter—en route to Winter Haven High School, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. The collision damaged the bus's rear tires and initiated a head-on crash with a Jeep, which subsequently caught fire, claiming the life of its driver.
Emergency personnel responded promptly, transporting five to seven individuals to local hospitals with potentially traumatic injuries, including one in critical condition. The bus ultimately overturned and came to rest in a ditch, prompting a significant emergency response.
Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid emphasized the importance of emergency evacuation training for students, noting the potential severity of the incident. “This event could have been far worse,” Heid stated.
Authorities have indicated that the investigation is in its preliminary stages, with additional information expected to be released during a news conference scheduled for Tuesday.