Two people are dead including a high school student after a three-vehicle crash that included a school bus in Polk County early Monday, according to Sheriff Grady Judd.
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The crash occurred at 6:13 a.m. near the Walmart Distribution Center on Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven. Killed was a 10th grade girl on board the Winter Haven High School bus as well as the driver of one of the other vehicles involved in the crash.
“It was still dark,” Judd said. “We spent the first several hours, number one, getting people to the hospital, and identifying them and getting their parents reunited.”
The school bus had 39 people on board including 37 students, the bus driver and the driver’s 9-year-old daughter. Twenty-six children taken to the hospital.
The bus was eastbound on Lucerne Park Road and “for unknown reasons” a white Chevy Malibu heading westbound on the road veered over the center line and crashed into the bus, Judd said.
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This caused the bus to lose traction and appeared to rip the tire off the school bus. It then crossed over the westbound lane of traffic and hit a silver Jeep head on.
“It was a horrible crash,” he said. “It was a terrible, tragic morning. We had a beautiful 10th grade girl lose her life.”
The Jeep driver also died.
“They left here in helicopters, ambulances and private vehicles,” he said.
Judd said one was still in critical condition and several others that were remained hospitalized.
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