A school bus crash on Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven, Florida, early Monday morning left a 10th-grade student and another driver dead, while injuring dozens of others who received treatment at local hospitals. The collision occurred just before 6:15 a.m. when an eastbound school bus collided with a westbound white Chevy Malibu that crossed into its lane.
Morning Collision on Lucerne Park Road Claims Two Lives
The impact forced the school bus into the westbound lanes, where it struck a silver Jeep head-on. The Jeep caught fire upon impact, killing its driver. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd confirmed that a 10th-grade girl riding on the bus died in the crash. According to the sheriff, 39 people were aboard the bus, including 37 high school students, the bus driver, and the driver’s 9-year-old daughter.
Witness Aniyah Urbaez captured video of the fiery scene after traffic came to a halt. Urbaez described seeing frantic children with missing shoes, cuts, and blood before she rendered aid with a first aid kit from her car. She transported several injured students to her vehicle to utilize the air conditioning and helped them contact their families. Emergency responders subsequently transported 22 students from the scene on another school bus equipped with a paramedic, while seven students, the bus driver, and her daughter went by ambulance. Three students were airlifted, and four others sought hospital care independently via family members.
Hospitalized Patients Treated Across Polk County Facilities
Local medical facilities managed the influx of injured patients throughout Monday morning. Winter Haven Hospital treated 19 pediatric patients and three adults. All but one of those pediatric patients have since been released. AdventHealth Heart of Florida treated 10 pediatric patients, all of whom have been discharged to their parents. Lakeland Regional Health also treated 10 pediatric patients, releasing seven, keeping two under observation, and listing one in critical condition.
Safety Protocols and Seat Belt Compliance on Florida Buses
The Polk County School District confirmed that the involved bus featured seat belts and that drivers actively encourage students to wear them. However, officials noted it remains unclear how many passengers were buckled up when the collision occurred. Shelly Mathis, transportation chief for the Sumter County School District, who was not involved in the incident, stated that school bus drivers complete extensive training but cannot control the actions of motorists sharing the roadway. Under Florida law, school districts have been required for the past 25 years to equip every new bus transporting pre-K through high school students with seat belts, and passengers are required to fasten them while the vehicle is in motion.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Winter Haven Bus Crash
What caused the Lucerne Park Road crash?
A westbound white Chevy Malibu crossed into the eastbound lane, striking the school bus and forcing it into the path of a silver Jeep.
How many people were on the school bus?
A total of 39 individuals were on board, comprising 37 high school students, the bus driver, and the driver’s 9-year-old daughter.
What are Florida’s seat belt regulations for school buses?
Florida law mandates that every new bus purchased for student transport over the past 25 years must include seat belts for every student, and passengers are required to wear them while the bus moves.
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