Overview

• Florida Highway Patrol said the Saturday night crash on eastbound State Road 70 involved a Ford SUV rear-ending a convoy of Fort Pierce Central High School buses and triggering a chain reaction.
• Eight people were hurt in total, including six students with mostly minor injuries and a 2-year-old who was airlifted in serious condition.
• The SUV, driven by a 32-year-old Tampa woman who had minor injuries, sustained heavy damage and caught fire after the impact.
• Officials gave differing early counts of buses and passengers, with FHP reporting three buses carrying about 90 students while another account cited four buses with roughly 150 students.
• Manatee County Schools sent buses to return the group from a band competition, and students were reunited with families Sunday morning as the investigation continues.