An off-duty Gainesville police officer crashed his marked patrol car into the back of a stopped Marion County school bus Friday morning in Ocala, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The bus was in the southbound lane of Southwest 49th Avenue with its lights flashing and stop sign extended, preparing to pick up children.
Thirteen children were aboard at the time of the crash. One student, the bus driver, and a bus aide were taken to the hospital as a precaution, while the officer was hospitalized with injuries troopers described as very serious but not life-threatening. The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash.
For families across the Suncoast, school bus stops are part of the daily routine, and this story is a reminder of how much trust we place in every driver who passes one. What questions do you have about school bus safety in your neighborhood? Let us know in the comments.
