Vero News > All News > News > 4 hurt after school bus flips in crash with tractor-trailer in Sebastian

4 hurt after school bus flips in crash with tractor-trailer in Sebastian

Written by: June 10 2021
facebook twitter pinterest linkedin
PHOTO BY KAILA JONES

Update: County Road 512 reopened late Thursday after being closed for several hours following a crash involving a school bus and a tractor-trailer.

Earlier story:

SEBASTIAN — Four people were hurt – including three students – after a school bus flipped on its side during a collision with a tractor-trailer Thursday, police said.

The bus was carrying 17 students at the time of the crash, Sebastian Police Cpt. Tim Wood said.

Wood said the tractor-trailer driver and three students on the bus were taken to area hospitals. One of the students, a 14-year-old boy, was flown to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach with serious, but non-life threatening injuries, said School District of Indian River County spokesperson Cristen Maddux and Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson Lt. Yanko Reyes.

The other two students – whose ages and genders were not available – were taken to Sebastian River Medical Center with minor injuries, Reyes said.

All students were discharged from the hospitals by 7 p.m., Maddux said. Reyes said charges are pending as the crash investigation continues.

“We are very thankful for the response of our bus driver, students, law enforcement, and passerby’s who acted quickly and calmly to control the accident scene and ensure the students’ safety. The response to the accident was a clear indication of how our community cares for one another, and comes together when there is a crisis,” Maddux said in a statement.

“We will continue to stay in communication and provide support to the families of our three students (who were hurt in the crash.) Our crisis response team will be at the location of the summer camp tomorrow morning to support students and families who were involved in this accident.”

Wood said the crash happened about 2:30 p.m. in the 200 block of C.R. 512, also known as Sebastian Boulevard. The wreck happened down the road from Sebastian Plaza and the Ashbury Community.

Maddux said the school bus driver had just picked up students who were attending a “mathletes” summer camp at Storm Grove Middle School. The School District of Indian River County bus and the tractor-trailer were both headed westbound on C.R. 512 when the two vehicles collided.

Reyes said the tractor-trailer was in the right lane and the school bus was in the left lane moments before the wreck. Reyes said the tractor-trailer driver made an improper lane change from the right lane to the left lane.

The tractor-trailer struck the right side of the school bus. Reyes said the impact caused the bus to swerve to the left, rotate counter clockwise and flip on its right side.

Wood said all of the students and the bus driver were already out of the bus when first responders arrived.

Maddux said all school district buses have seat belts. It was unclear if all the students were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash.

The tractor-trailer belongs to Sysco Southeast Florida LLC, a food products supplier.

Police closed C.R. 512 in the immediate area for several hours, causing traffic delays.

Several police cars, Indian River County Fire Rescue trucks and a tow truck could be seen at the crash site. Officers put up crime scene tape around the tractor-trailer, which had moderate damage to its front bumper.

The extent of damage to the school bus was not available.

The remaining students were taken to Church at the Cross, 50 S. Wimbrow Drive, and picked up by their parents. FHP continues to investigate the wreck.

No further details were immediately available.

Photos by Kaila Jones and Nick Samuel

This story will be updated. 

facebook twitter pinterest linkedin
+100%-

Related Articles

2 seriously hurt in multi-vehicle crash on U.S. 1

GIFFORD — Two people suffered severe injuries following a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 1 that left a person trapped inside an automobile, sheriff's deputies said. Indian River County Fire Rescue crews used rescue machinery to free the individual from the wreckage, said Sgt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson for the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. The wreck involving a silver van, Subaru Outback and an unknown third vehicle, happened about 11 a.m. Monday in the 4500 block of U.S. 1, east of Old Dixie Highway in Gifford. Jaworski said the vehicles had heavy damage from impact. One person was flown to HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce, while the other individual was taken by ambulance, Jaworski said. Florida Highway Patrol ...

Man critical after being struck by vehicle Friday in Sebastian

SEBASTIAN — A 70-year-old Brevard County man was critically injured after being struck by a pickup truck while walking across U.S. 1 last week, fire rescue crews and sheriff's officials said. An update on his condition was not immediately available on Monday. "All indications are that the pedestrian was crossing the roadway improperly," said Sgt. Kevin Jaworski, a spokesperson with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office. "Impairment is suspected for the pedestrian." The driver of the pickup and two passengers were not hurt, Jaworski said. The crash involving the Indian Harbour Beach man and the pickup happened at 9:30 p.m. Friday in the 1400 block of U.S. 1, north of Main Street and just west of Mo Bay Grill in ...

C.R. 510 reopen after fatal crash that killed Vero Beach man

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — A 77-year-old Vero Beach pickup driver was killed after veering into the opposite lane and slamming into a garbage truck Monday afternoon, Florida Highway Patrol troopers said. The collision happened just east of Sebastian River High School and caused officials to block traffic along County Road 510 in both directions for several hours. The other driver, a 38-year-old Port St. Lucie man, had minor injuries, officials said. The roadway reopened by Tuesday, according to the highway patrol traffic map. The wreck involving the 2002 white Ford Ranger and the 2005 blue Mack Granite roll-off dump truck happened about 2:20 p.m. in the 9000 block of 90th Avenue (County Road 510). The collision happened just south of ...

Comments are closed.