Full Breakdown
Deadly School Bus Crash Shuts Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
Early Monday morning, a multi-vehicle collision on Lucerne Park Road near Highway 27 resulted in two fatalities. A westbound white Chevrolet Malibu crossed the center line and struck the rear tandem wheels of an eastbound school bus carrying 39 occupants—37 high-school students, the driver, and the driver’s nine-year-old daughter. The impact ripped a tire from the bus, sending it into the opposite lane where it collided head-on with a silver Jeep, which subsequently caught fire. A fourth vehicle was also involved in the scene.
Data & Statistics
- Occupants on the bus: 39 (37 students, driver, driver’s daughter)
- Fatalities: 2 (the 10th-grade student on the bus and the Jeep driver)
- Injured: Preliminary reports indicate five to seven people received trauma alerts, with one in critical condition; injuries ranged from minor to serious.
- Vehicles involved: At least four (school bus, Chevrolet Malibu, Jeep, additional vehicle).
- Road impact: Lucerne Park Road was closed in both directions from Old Lucerne Park Road to the Walmart Distribution Center, with officials expecting the closure to last several hours.
Official Statements & Responses
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd briefed the media, confirming the time of the crash at approximately 6:15 a.m. He noted that the investigation was still preliminary, that the Malibu driver was cooperating, and that no arrests had been made. Justin Sharpless, chair of the Polk County School Board, echoed the sheriff’s assessment, calling the event the most severe bus accident he could recall.
Impact on the Community
Students were transported to multiple hospitals, including Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Lakeland Regional Health, and AdventHealth Heart of Families. Some uninjured students were driven home by private vehicles. The prolonged road closure forced commuters to seek alternate routes, disrupting daily travel and school transportation plans.
Ongoing Investigation
The Polk County Traffic Homicide Unit continues to examine the crash. Authorities have not released a definitive cause beyond the Malibu’s crossing of the center line, and the investigation remains open while the road closure persists.