Truck driver pulled over hours before crash with school bus

BRADFORD COUNTY, Fla. — About two hours before a logging truck crashed into a school bus on Monday in Starke, the driver of the truck was pulled over for inspection, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) told First Coast News.

The truck driver, Shannon Ford, was pulled over around 12:15 p.m. in Nassau County, and the sheriff’s office asked the FHP to assist in the inspection, according to the news outlet. FHP Sgt. Dylan Bryan told First Coast News that an officer with FHP conducted an inspection of the truck and found a few safety violations but nothing that would put the vehicle out of service.

The bus that Ford crashed into hours later with the same truck was carrying 15 students from Starke Elementary School. Seven children and the bus driver were taken to the hospital, First Coast News reports. Charges are pending against Ford in the accident.

The Putnam County jail log shows Ford has been arrested at least 10 times in Putnam County dating back to 2005, according to First Coast News. Charges include grand theft, burglary, domestic violence and, most recently, shoplifting, though it does not appear he was convicted on all those charges. FHP told the news outlet that a naked woman in the truck was Sherry Ford, and Sgt. Bryan with FHP said he was told she is the truck driver's wife. FHP said she was also in the truck when it was inspected.

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