A high school student and a driver died Monday after a car crossed the center line and struck a bus in Polk County.
A school bus carrying 37 students overturned in central Florida on Monday morning after a collision that killed two people, including a 10th grade girl, authorities said.
The crash happened shortly after 6 a.m. on a two-lane road in Winter Haven as the bus was traveling to Winter Haven High School. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said an oncoming white Chevrolet Malibu crossed the center line and struck the bus near its rear wheels, ripping off a tire. The bus then veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a silver Jeep, which caught fire before the bus came to rest on its roof in a ditch.
One person inside the Jeep and the 10th grade student died, authorities said. Officials have not publicly identified the student. In addition to the high school students, the bus driver and the driver’s 9-year-old daughter were aboard.
Judd said five to seven people were taken to local hospitals with trauma alerts, and one person remained in critical condition Monday. Patients were transported by helicopters, ambulances and private vehicles. While CBS News initially reported that dozens were injured, other accounts stated that several people suffered injuries.
Fox News reported that three other vehicles were involved alongside the bus. Authorities said the driver of the Malibu told police they were heading to work, is cooperating with investigators and has not been arrested.
