Early Monday morning, a school bus traveling eastbound on Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven collided with a westbound Chevrolet Malibu that had crossed into the bus lane. The impact sent the bus into a silver Jeep, which caught fire and killed its driver. The crash claimed the life of a 10th‑grade girl on the bus and the Jeep driver, while 39 people aboard the bus—including 37 high‑school students, the bus driver and the driver’s nine‑year‑old daughter—were injured.
Immediate response and medical care
Emergency responders quickly transported the injured to local hospitals. Winter Haven Hospital treated 19 pediatric and three adult patients; all but one pediatric patient have since been released. Ten children were discharged from AdventHealth Heart of Florida to their parents, and Lakeland Regional Health released seven of its ten pediatric patients. Two remain under observation and one child is in critical condition.
Paramedics, a second school bus equipped with a paramedic, and ambulances moved 22 students to the hospital. Seven students, the bus driver and the driver’s daughter arrived by ambulance, while three students were airlifted. Four more were taken to the hospital by family members.
Witness steps in to help
Local resident Aniyah Urbaez captured video of the fiery scene and heard cries for help. “I was taking a video to let work know I’d be late when I saw the kids frantic and heard people calling for help,” Urbaez said. She described the heartbreaking sight of children missing shoes, covered in blood, and one child bleeding from the head.
Before paramedics arrived, Urbaez used a first‑aid kit she kept in her car to clean wounds, provide comfort, and help families contact loved ones. She gathered several injured students, placing some on the road and others in her vehicle’s air‑conditioned interior. “I lifted a girl who couldn’t walk because of leg pain and carried her back to the car,” she recalled.
Urbaez expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve, adding, “God used me to help them, and my prayers go out to the families.”
Official statements
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd called the morning “terrible and tragic,” noting the loss of the 10th‑grade student. He confirmed the bus carried 39 occupants and that the Jeep driver perished in the fire.
Shelly Mathis, transportation chief for Sumter County School District, explained that bus drivers receive extensive training and follow strict safety protocols, but they cannot control the actions of other drivers. “Unfortunately, nothing can prepare you for this magnitude of an accident,” Mathis said.
The Polk County School District confirmed the bus was equipped with seat belts and that drivers encourage students to wear them, though it is unclear how many were buckled at the time of the crash. State law requires all school districts to install seat belts on new buses purchased for pre‑K through high school, and mandates that students buckle up while the bus is moving.
Community impact and next steps
The crash has left the community grieving and questioning bus safety measures. Parents, teachers, and local officials are rallying to support the injured and honor the fallen student. The district plans to review seat‑belt compliance and explore additional safety training for drivers.
As families pray for recovery, the incident underscores the importance of preparedness, compassionate by‑standers, and the ongoing need for robust safety protocols on school transportation.
Original reporting: WESH Orlando — read the source article.
