Fire Truck vs. School Bus Accident Sends Two to Hospital

A school bus carrying 48 elementary school students was hit at about 3 p.m. today when it turned in front of a fire truck responding to an emergency, according to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol.

According to the FHP report:

Two students were taken to Lakewood Ranch Medical Center with minor injuries. James B. McKinney, 73, who was driving the school bus, was charged with failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

The school bus was traveling south on Rye Road and approaching the intersection of 18th Place East when a fire truck responding to an automobile fire was also traveling south on Rye Road with its emergency lights and sirens activated. The fire truck got into the northbound lane of Rye Road to pass yielding vehicles but the school bus driver didn't see or hear the emergency vehicle and turned left onto 18th Place East in front of the fire truck.

The left front of fire truck struck the right side of the school bus. Two school bus passengers were taken to Lakewood Ranch Hospital with minor injuries.

There were a total of 48 students from Witt Elementary on the school bus, according to Margi Nanney, a spokesperson for the school district. Some parents met the school bus and took their children home. Others were transferred to another bus and were taken to their bus stops.

Douglas R. Spriggs, 48, was driving the Pierce Enforcer fire truck involved in the accident, according to the FHP report.