Station Art
Loading Title...
Loading Artist...
Loading...
Loading Tagline...

 

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd provided an update Tuesday on a fatal school bus crash that killed a 10th-grade girl and a Jeep driver in Winter Haven.

The crash happened at 6:15 a.m. Monday on Lucerne Park Road (State Road 544), about one and a half miles off Highway 27.

During the news conference, Judd showed both exterior and interior footage of the bus at the time of the crash.

Judd said a westbound white Chevrolet Malibu crossed the center line and struck the rear of the eastbound bus, ripping off a tire and sending the bus into a head-on collision with the Jeep. A fourth vehicle, a Kia Forte, struck the rear of the Malibu. That driver suffered minor injuries.

“It was a horrible set of circumstances,” said Judd.

Judd identified the Malibu’s driver as a nursing student from Haines City en route to work and is cooperating with investigators. She is not expected to face any charges.

“She said, ‘I just don’t remember what happened,’” Judd said.

Despite being pinned inside the bus, Judd said the bus driver freed herself and immediately helped students evacuate.

“She was not speeding. She was in her lane of travel,” Judd said. “She immediately rushed to the aid of the children just as soon as she could get out.”

Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid identified the Winter Haven High School student who was killed as Adinaluz Guadalupe Prieto Oyola, stating that Monday was her first day of cheerleading practice. Judd identified the driver of the Jeep as 26-year-old Deshaun Smith of Haines City.

A total of 39 people were on the bus — 37 high school students, the driver and her 9-year-old daughter. Thirty-five people were transported to area hospitals. Three remained hospitalized but were expected to fully recover, Judd said.

The National Transportation Safety Board has opened a federal safety investigation into the crash.

Share the Post: