Florida school bus rollover crash kills 10th grader and one other
In short
Two people died, including a 10th-grade girl at Winter Haven High School, when a school bus flipped onto its roof in Winter Haven, Florida, on Monday morning, the Polk County sheriff said. The bus was carrying 39 people — 37 students, the driver and the driver's 9-year-old daughter — when a white Chevy Malibu crossed the centre line and struck its rear wheels, sending the bus into oncoming traffic and into a silver Jeep. Dozens were taken to hospital; the driver of the Malibu is cooperating and has not been arrested.
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Two people were killed, including a 10th-grade girl who attended Winter Haven High School, when a school bus rolled onto its roof in Winter Haven, Florida, on Monday morning, authorities said. The crash also injured dozens of people, according to the Polk County sheriff's office. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the bus was heading to Winter Haven High School at about 6:15 a.m. when a white Chevy Malibu travelling the other way crossed the centre line and struck the bus's rear wheels, ripping off one of its tyres. The bus then lurched into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with a silver Jeep, Judd said. The Guardian US, citing authorities, put the crash time at about 6.13 a.m. The sheriff said the bus did not catch fire but the Jeep did. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The bus was carrying 39 people — 37 high school students, the bus driver and the driver's 9-year-old daughter, according to the sheriff. The 10th-grade girl died on the bus. The New York Post reported that the second person killed was the driver of the Jeep; Fox News said the other deceased person was inside the silver Jeep; The Guardian US, citing authorities, described that person as an occupant of one of the other vehicles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Accounts of the number of injured differ. The New York Post, citing the sheriff, reported “in excess” of 40 people injured. The Guardian US, citing the Polk County sheriff's office, said about 26 students on the bus were taken to hospital. Fox News reported between five and seven people were taken to hospital with trauma alerts, with one person in critical condition. All three reports say the injured were taken to hospitals by helicopter, ambulance and private vehicles, and the New York Post said more than 100 first responders came to the scene, citing Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Brent Heid. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
“It was a horrible crash,” Judd said at a news conference, adding: “We had a beautiful 10th grade girl lose her life.” The sheriff also said, “I think this is the most horrific bus tragedy we've had in decades.” According to The Guardian US, which cited the local outlet WESH, a spokesperson for the Polk County public school district said the girl had been a student at Winter Haven High School, and a district statement said: “This is devastating news for WHHS and our community. We are praying for the victims and their families.” [ 1 , 3 ]
Fox News reported that the driver of the Chevy Malibu is cooperating with investigators, told police they were on their way to work and has not been arrested. The New York Post said the investigation was in its preliminary stages and that authorities expected to release more information on Tuesday. Officials said the Malibu crossed the centre line “for unknown reasons”, according to The Guardian US. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The Guardian US noted, as context, that the most recent data from the National Safety Council showed there were 110 deaths related to school bus crashes in 2024. [ 3 ]
Why it matters
The crash killed a student on her way to school and injured dozens of others, prompting a school district statement of grief and a multi-agency investigation. The Polk County sheriff, an official source, called it the worst bus tragedy the county has seen in decades, and The Guardian US noted national data on school bus crash deaths as context. The outcome of the investigation, and whether any charges follow, remains open.
Key facts
- Two people were killed, including a 10th-grade girl who was a student at Winter Haven High School in Polk County, Florida. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The school bus was carrying 39 people: 37 high school students, the bus driver and the driver's 9-year-old daughter. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- A white Chevy Malibu travelling in the opposite direction crossed the centre line and struck the bus's rear wheels, after which the bus crossed into oncoming traffic and hit a silver Jeep head-on, according to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The bus ended up flipped onto its roof, and the Jeep caught fire, the sheriff said. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Injured people were taken to hospital by helicopter, ambulance and private vehicles, with one person reported in critical condition. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The driver of the Chevy Malibu is cooperating with investigators, told police they were on their way to work and has not been arrested, according to Fox News. [ 2 ]
- The sheriff said the investigation was in its preliminary stages and that authorities expected to release more information on Tuesday. [ 1 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Two people died in the crash, one of them a 10th-grade girl who attended Winter Haven High School and was on the bus. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The bus had 39 occupants: 37 high school students, the bus driver and the driver's 9-year-old daughter. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The crash happened at about 6:15 a.m. on Monday morning and involved the school bus and other vehicles. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said a white Chevy Malibu crossed the centre line, hit the bus's rear wheels, and the bus then crossed into oncoming traffic and struck a silver Jeep head-on. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The bus rolled onto its roof, and the sheriff described the crash as the most horrific bus tragedy the county has had in decades. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- The injured were taken to hospitals by helicopters, ambulances and private vehicles. [ 1 , 2 ]
Still unclear
- The total number of people injured. The New York Post, citing the sheriff, said there were “in excess” of 40 injured; The Guardian US, citing the Polk County sheriff's office, said about 26 students were taken to hospital; Fox News said between five and seven people were taken to hospital with trauma alerts.
- How many vehicles were involved. Fox News and The Guardian US said three vehicles including the bus; the New York Post reported that a fourth vehicle was also involved.
- The identity of the second person killed. The New York Post said it was the driver of the Jeep, Fox News said the person was inside the silver Jeep, and The Guardian US, citing authorities, described them only as an occupant of one of the other vehicles.
- Why the Chevy Malibu crossed the centre line. The Guardian US, citing officials, said it happened “for unknown reasons”; the New York Post said the investigation was preliminary.
- Whether the driver of the Chevy Malibu will face charges. Fox News reported the driver is cooperating and has not been arrested; no document says whether charges are expected.
- The names of those killed. Fox News said police have not identified the 10th-grade student who died; no document names either victim.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- The crash happens in Winter Haven, Florida, according to the Polk County sheriff's office, which put the time at about 6.13 a.m. [ 3 ]
- Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd says the bus was headed to Winter Haven High School at about 6:15 a.m. when the Chevy Malibu crossed the centre line and struck its rear wheels. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The New York Post publishes its report on the crash. [ 1 ]
- Fox News publishes its report, saying the Malibu driver is cooperating and has not been arrested. [ 2 ]
- The Guardian US publishes its report, including a school district statement and national school bus crash data. [ 3 ]