School bus overturns in Florida: two people die, including a student

A school bus overturned in Florida in the United States after colliding with several vehicles, killing two people. One of the victims was a 10th-grade student.

A limited number of other people were injured, with one person remaining in critical condition.

The incident occurred on Monday morning in central Florida, when the bus was on its way to Winter Haven High School in the city of Winter Haven.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the bus had traveled a short distance after 6:00 a.m. A vehicle traveling in the opposite direction crossed the centerline of the road and struck the bus near its rear wheels.

As a result of the collision, one of the bus’s tires was detached. The bus was then struck from behind by a Jeep, which crashed and caught fire. The person inside the Jeep died.

There were 39 people inside the bus: 37 high school students, the bus driver and his daughter.

Authorities reported that five to seven people were taken to hospital with potentially serious injuries. One of the injured people remained in critical condition during the first hours after the accident.

Emergency crews worked for several hours, removing the injured from the scene, identifying them and allowing students to contact their families.

Sheriff Grady Judd described the incident as one of the most serious school bus accidents in recent decades.

Judd said it was a very tragic accident and a tragic morning in which a beautiful 10th-grade girl lost her life.