FLORIDA — A Marion County school bus crash left one person dead Wednesday afternoon after a collision involving a pickup truck towing a trailer, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened on State Road 40 at the intersection of Southeast 177th Avenue in Marion County.
Investigators said the school bus was traveling eastbound on SR 40 and had stopped while preparing to make a left turn. As the bus entered the intersection, troopers said it failed to yield to an oncoming GMC pickup truck, causing an offset head-on collision.
The driver of the pickup truck suffered serious injuries and was transported under trauma alert to HCA Hospital. In an update issued around 6:20 p.m., the Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the pickup truck driver later died from those injuries.
Authorities said the school bus was carrying the driver, a bus aide and four children ages 5, 6, 7 and 10. No injuries were reported among those on the bus.
Officials also said a second school bus was nearby at the time of the crash but was not involved.
Emergency crews temporarily blocked the roadway while they responded to the scene and cleared debris from the crash site. Drivers were urged to use alternate routes during the investigation.
The crash remains under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
