Overview
- A multi‑vehicle collision early Monday morning involved a school bus carrying 39 people and resulted in the deaths of a 10th‑grade girl and a person in the Jeep.
- Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the crash began when an oncoming car crossed the center line and struck the bus near its rear wheels, ripping off a tire and triggering the subsequent Jeep collision and fire.
- First responders spent hours extracting occupants, reuniting students with parents and transporting five to seven people to hospitals with potentially traumatic injuries, with at least one person reported in critical condition.
- The bus was carrying 37 Winter Haven High School students plus the bus driver and the driver’s daughter at the time of the crash.
- Polk County authorities are leading an active investigation at the scene and have not yet released names, charges, or a final crash report as they continue to gather evidence and interview witnesses.