School Bus Crash in Florida Kills Student and Jeep Driver

A Polk County school bus carrying 39 people flipped onto its roof during a multivehicle collision in Winter Haven, Florida, on Monday morning, killing two people and sending five to seven others to hospitals with traumatic injuries. The crash occurred around 6:13–6:15 a.m. on Lucerne Park Road when a white Chevy Malibu traveling westbound crossed the center line and struck the rear wheels of the eastbound school bus. The impact ripped a tire from the bus and caused it to veer into the westbound lane, where it collided head-on with a silver Jeep that caught fire.

The victims were a 10th-grade girl from Winter Haven High School aboard the bus and a person inside the Jeep. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd described the crash as "the most horrific bus tragedy we've had in decades." The bus was transporting 37 high school students, the driver, and the driver's 9-year-old daughter. At least 100 emergency personnel responded to the scene; multiple helicopters airlifted trauma victims to AdventHealth Heart of Florida, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, Winter Haven Hospital, and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children. One person remained in critical condition as of early Monday afternoon.

Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid noted that students had practiced emergency evacuation drills, which he said may have prevented worse injuries. The driver of the Chevy Malibu was cooperating with authorities and had not been arrested; the reason for crossing the center line remained under investigation. Lucerne Park Road was closed for a minimum of four to five hours while the Polk County Traffic Homicide team investigated. A further press conference was scheduled for Tuesday morning.