Driver and Student Injured in Orlando School Bus Accident

On Wednesday, February 5th, a school-bus driver and one student suffered minor injuries as their bus crashed into a backhoe from behind in east Orange County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The school bus was from Timber Creek High School. It had been traveling northbound on Alafaya Trail close to 1:40pm when it rear-ended the backhoe. The construction vehicle was making a left turn into a jobsite area close to Whisper Palms Way, troopers noted. The location of the construction site is near the Stoneybrook community.

The driver of the bus, Carmen Huertas, age 66, was transported to the Oviedo Emergency Room, a division of Central Florida Regional Hospital, and treated for minor injuries. The injured student did not require any hospital treatment.

Eight other students were also passengers on the bus at the time of the accident, but none of them were injured by crash. No further details were provided by authorities. State troopers did not specify why the bus driver failed to slow down in time and collided with the backhoe. It was not stated whether any citations were issued in connection with the accident.

School Bus Safety Tips for Children

• Find a seat on the bus and sit down promptly. It is important to listen to the bus driver in case there are any special instructions students may need to follow.
• Do not leave your seat until the bus arrives at your stop. Remain seated at all times.
• Keep backpacks, bags, and books out of the aisle, as they can trip others or block the way to the emergency exit.