An off-duty Gainesville Police Department officer, a school bus driver, an aide and a child were injured in a two-vehicle crash when the law enforcement vehicle slammed into the back of a Marion County school bus on Oct. 16.
Here's what we know:
What time was the crash? Marion County Fire Rescue spokesperson James Lucas said crews got the call at 6:52 a.m. and arrived at 6:58 a.m. An extrication was done on the GPD vehicle to free the officer. That process began at 7:01 a.m. and ended at 7:17 a.m.
The officer was transported to HCA Florida Ocala Hospital for treatment of serious injuries, law enforcement officials said.
Where was the crash? At Southwest 49th Avenue Road and Southwest 82nd Place Road.
Which agency is investigating the crash? Florida
Highway Patrol.
What happened? FHP said a school bus was stopped facing south in the outside lane of Southwest 49th Avenue Road at Southwest 82nd Place Road to pick up children at a bus stop. The bus' flashing lights were on and the stop signs at the sides were out, FHP said.
An off-duty GPD officer driving his marked Ford Explorer was southbound in the same lane behind the school bus. Troopers said the officer failed to observe the stopped bus, and the front of the patrol vehicle collided with the rear of the bus.
As of midday Oct. 16 the cause of the crash was not known. The officer had worked the night shift, FHP said.
How many children were on the bus? Marion County Public Schools spokesperson Kevin Christian said 13 students were on the bus, along with the bus driver and an aide.
FHP said the bus driver is age 37 and the aide is 54. Christian said the driver, aide and one student were hospitalized. Troopers said those three patients were taken to AdventHealth Ocala Hospital.
Christian said the bus was on its way to Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School. He said counselors were at the school to help students and staff.
Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Off-duty Gainesville officer hits stopped school bus in SW Marion; four hurt
