WINTER HAVEN — Two people were killed in a multivehicle crash involving a school bus in Winter Haven, Florida, on Monday morning. One of the deceased was a 10th-grade female student at Winter Haven High School.

The second person killed was an occupant of a Jeep involved in the crash. The collision occurred at approximately 6:13 a.m. on Old Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven.

A white Chevrolet Malibu traveling westbound crossed the center line and struck the rear wheels of the eastbound school bus. The impact ripped a tire off the school bus, causing it to lose control and cross into oncoming traffic.

The school bus collided head-on with a Jeep, which caught fire. The school bus overturned onto its roof and came to rest in a ditch beside the road. Three other vehicles were involved in the crash.

There were 39 people on the school bus, including 37 high school students, the bus driver, and the driver's daughter. The bus driver's daughter was 9 years old. Five to seven people were transported to hospitals with traumatic injuries. One person remained in critical condition early Monday.

Lucerne Park Road was closed in both directions from Old Lucerne Park Road to the Walmart Distribution Center. The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu is cooperating with investigators and has not been arrested. The driver of the Chevrolet Malibu stated they were on their way to work at the time of the crash.

Why It Matters

National Safety Council data shows there were 110 deaths related to school bus crashes in 2024, a 14% decrease from 128 deaths in 2023. Data indicates that from 2015 to 2023, 71% of school bus-related crash deaths involved occupants of other vehicles, 15% involved pedestrians, 6% involved passengers, 4% involved drivers, and 3% involved cyclists.

Timeline

On September 3, another Polk County school bus was involved in a crash in Lakeland where no students were on board and one person sustained non-life-threatening injuries. The crash occurred at approximately 6:13 a.m. on Old Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven.

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "It was a horrible crash. It was a terrible, tragic morning. We had a beautiful 10th grade girl lose her life." Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said, "I think this is the most horrific bus tragedy we've had in decades, as far back as I can remember." Justin Sharpless, chairman of the Polk County school board, said, "There are really no words that can take away the pain of losing a young person."

What's New

Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has served over 50 years in law enforcement, beginning as a dispatcher in 1972 and rising through the ranks to become sheriff in 2004.

He holds a Master’s degree from Rollins College and has led national law enforcement organizations including the Florida Sheriffs Association. Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd has served as sheriff since 2005, elected in 2004 with 64% of the vote, and has been re-elected three times without opposition. Judd has previously served as President of the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Major County Sheriffs of America, a national organization representing counties with populations over 500,000.