FLORIDA — Six students from Fort Pierce Central High School were taken to hospitals after several school buses were involved in a crash with a sports utility vehicle Saturday night, according to the Florida Highway Patrol and St. Lucie County Schools.
The accident happened just after 8 p.m. on State Road 70 near Palmbrush Trail.
Three school buses carrying about 150 students returning from a band competition in Bradenton were stopped in the eastbound lane when a Ford SUV collided with the rear of one of the buses, pushing the buses into one another.
Troopers said the Ford caught fire after the collision. The driver, a 32-year-old woman from Tampa, was treated for minor injuries. A 2-year-old passenger in the SUV was airlifted to a nearby hospital with injuries.
Six students were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries. As of Sunday, five had been released, and one remained hospitalized for observation, the school district said.
St. Lucie County Schools thanked Manatee County Schools for providing two buses to help transport students back to Fort Pierce late Saturday night. Students were reunited with their parents early Sunday morning.
“Our thoughts are with the students, families, and staff members impacted by last night’s accident,” Superintendent Dr. Jon R. Prince said in a statement. “We are incredibly thankful for the immediate response and support from Manatee County Schools, local first responders, and our own team members who worked together to ensure our students’ safety and well-being.”
The Florida Highway Patrol is continuing to investigate the crash.
