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2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash

A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.

October 6, 2026
Graphic showing a yellow school bus behind a shattered-glass effect with the text “Multi-Vehicle Crash in FL Takes 2 Lives” and the date October 5, 2026.

Polk County authorities are investigating an October 5 collision in Winter Haven involving a school bus and three other vehicles.

Credit:

School Bus Fleet

2 min to read


A 10th-grade student and another motorist were killed Monday morning in a school bus crash in Winter Haven, Florida, that sent dozens of people to area hospitals.

The crash occurred shortly before 6:15 a.m. on Lucerne Park Road as the bus was transporting students to Winter Haven High School, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. WESH 2 reported that the bus was traveling eastbound when a westbound Chevrolet Malibu crossed into its lane and struck the bus.

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Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the initial impact caused the bus to lose control and a tire to come off. The bus then crossed into the westbound lanes, collided head-on with a Jeep and overturned. The Jeep caught fire, killing its driver. The high school student who died had been riding on the bus.

The bus carried 39 people, including 37 students, the school bus driver, and the driver’s 9-year-old daughter. Three other vehicles were involved in the crash.

Dozens of people were taken to area hospitals. Winter Haven Hospital received 22 patients — 19 pediatric patients and three adults — and had released all but one pediatric patient, who was transferred to another hospital. WESH reported that Lakeland Regional Health treated 10 patients, with seven released, two remaining under evaluation and one admitted in critical condition as of Monday afternoon.

Polk County Public Schools confirmed that the bus was equipped with student seat belts and said all district school buses have lap belts. It was not immediately clear how many students were wearing them when the crash occurred.

“This is devastating news for WHHS and our community,” the district said in a statement. “We are praying for the victims and their families.”

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The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the crash in coordination with the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.

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