School Bus Overturns in Crash, 7 Students Injured

RIDGE MANOR, Fla. — Seven students sustained minor injuries when a school bus overturned in a crash with a semi trailer here on Wednesday morning, police said.

An officer from the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office said in a video posted on Facebook that a school bus and semi crashed, leaving the bus on its side. There were about 18 students on board, the officer said.

The crash occurred shortly before 6:20 a.m. in a construction zone on Cortez Blvd. at the intersection of Interstate 75, the Florida Highway Patrol told the Tampa Bay Times. The driver of the semi trailer allegedly did not make a full stop at a red light, partially entered the intersection, and collided with the bus.

The Hernando County School District posted on its Facebook page that seven students are being treated for minor injuries and that the bus driver is OK.

“We are very grateful to all of the first responders as well as the community members and bus driver who acted immediately to get the students out of the bus and to safety,” the district added in the Facebook post.

Karen Jordan, public information officer for the Hernando County School District, told the Tampa Bay Times that parents were notified of the crash through the district’s mobile app at around 6:50 a.m.

The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the crash, according to the Hernando County Sheriff’s Office.