Winter Haven, Florida — A 10th-grade student and another driver were killed Monday morning after a vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and slammed into a crowded school bus, triggering a chain-reaction crash in central Florida.
The deadly collision happened around 6:13 a.m. on Oct. 5 in Winter Haven, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. The crash involved three vehicles, including a Polk County Public Schools bus carrying dozens of students headed to Winter Haven High School.
Authorities said 39 people were aboard the bus, including 37 high school students, the bus driver and the driver’s 9-year-old daughter.
Car Crossed Center Line Before Crash
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said at a news conference Monday that video footage showed the school bus traveling eastbound on Lucerne Park Road shortly before the collision.
For reasons that remain unknown, a Chevy Malibu traveling in the opposite direction crossed the center line and struck the school bus.
The impact caused severe damage and set off a chain reaction.
“It also appears to have ripped the tire off of the school bus,” Judd said. “The school bus then crossed over the westbound lane of traffic and hit a silver Jeep head-on.”
The school bus ultimately flipped into a ditch, while the silver Jeep caught fire. The violent crash left multiple people injured and emergency crews rushing to the scene.
10th-Grade Student Among Those Killed
Judd described the crash as “a terrible, tragic morning” and confirmed that a female student aboard the school bus died. The driver of the silver Jeep was also killed.
Neither victim had been publicly identified at the time of the announcement.Dozens of people were transported to hospitals following the crash, while one other person remained in critical condition, according to the sheriff.
The student death has sent shockwaves through the Winter Haven community and the local school district.
“The silver lining is there wasn’t more fatalities than there were,” Judd said. “But to have one fatality is one too many, and to have one fatality of a beautiful high school girl is heartbreaking.”
School District Mourns Student
Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid spoke about the crash during Monday’s news conference and said the district was grateful that more students were not seriously hurt.
“We are very fortunate that more students were not seriously injured, including the driver. No one will ever understand how heavy this weighs in our hearts,” Heid said.
He also thanked the first responders who responded to the crash and helped those injured at the scene. Polk County Public Schools later addressed the tragedy in a social media statement.
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“This is devastating news … We are praying for the victims and their families,” the district said.
Driver Was on Way to Work
Investigators are still trying to determine exactly why the Malibu crossed into the opposing lane. Judd said no arrest had been made and that the investigation remained ongoing.
Authorities said the driver of the Malibu was cooperating with investigators.
“They are cooperating with the investigation, and they were on their way to work,” Judd said.
The statement adds another heartbreaking detail to a crash that happened during the early morning commute, when the school bus was carrying students to school.
Investigation Into Deadly Crash Continues
Investigators are expected to examine the vehicles, available video footage and other evidence to determine what led the Malibu to cross the center line.
The circumstances surrounding the crash remain under investigation, and authorities have not announced whether additional charges could be filed.
For families connected to Winter Haven High School, the morning collision has transformed an ordinary school day into a devastating loss.
The death of a young student has left the school community grieving, while another family is mourning the loss of a loved one. Share your thoughts and condolences for the victims, their families and everyone affected by this heartbreaking Florida crash.
