Truck-Bus Accident on Highway 301 Results in Injuries, One Death
CITRA, FLORIDA – A fatal accident Tuesday, September 23 involving a tractor-trailer and a school bus resulted in the death of 13-year old student, Frances Margay Schee. The accident occurred on U.S. Highway 301 in Marion County when the truck rear-ended the school bus, causing both vehicles to catch fire. Six students were injured, but none with life-threatening injuries. Both drivers were also treated for minor injuries at nearby hospitals.
According to Jim Yancey, the Marion County Superintendent of Schools, witnesses to the accident rescued children from the burning bus, which was carrying 20 passengers at the time of the accident. The deceased was a student at North Marion Middle School, and all of the surviving children have been accounted for.
The Florida Highway Patrol says that the investigation into the collision could take as much as 30 days to complete. According to FHP spokesman Lt. Patrick Riordan, the investigation will include interviews, photographs and measurements from the accident scene, and blood samples from the drivers, as well as an examination of the truck operator’s driving record. The 18-wheeler carries the emblem of CSX, a company based in Jacksonville.
Assistant State Attorney Rock Hooker has discussed the accident with the FHP officials who are conducting the investigation and was set to meet with them on Friday, September 26.
A preliminary report states that the driver of the truck, Reinaldo A. Gonzalez, 30, of Orlando, was talking on a cellular phone prior to the crash. The report also mentions potential problems with the truck’s air brakes. No charges have as yet been filed, however.
Accidents caused by drivers who use cell phones on the road are on the rise. In Florida, it is not illegal to talk on a cell phone while driving. To date, only five states and Washington, D.C. have passed laws banning handheld cell phone use while operating a motor vehicle.
Personal injuries due to automobile accidents are among the practice areas represented by Alitowski & Moore, P.A. If you have been injured in an accident, contact a Broward County Injury Attorney/Lawyer, and find out if you could be eligible to receive monetary damages. Offices are located in Fort Lauderdale and North Miami Beach.
