patching...
Welcome back, Patch Blogger!

Students Injured, Driver Charged in School Bus Crash

The bus headed to Rushe Middle School Monday morning rear-ended another vehicle.

 

A school bus driver faces charges after her bus en route to Rushe Middle School rear-ended another vehicle, causing minor injuries to at least five students.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the bus driven by Deborah D. O' Connor of Lutz was traveling westbound on State Road 54 at about 8:15 a.m. Monday morning when a 1999 Mazda B3000 traveling in front of it stopped for traffic ahead.

O' Connor told troopers she looked in her rearview mirror momentarily and did not see the traffic stop, resulting in the front of the bus colliding with the right rear side of the Mazda driven by William M. Eggers, 47, of Safety Harbor.

According to the FHP report, 44 students ranging from 10 to 15 years old were on board the bus. Five students complained of minor injuries, according to FHP.

Shealyn De Pury, 13, Bryce Harris, 13, Brandon Perez, 14, Brianna Portzen, 11, and Bailey Wagner, 13, all of Lutz, were transported to St. Joseph's Hospital North, according to an FHP report.

The bus was not traveling at a high rate of speed, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office.

The accident remains under investigation. O' Conner was charged with careless driving, according to the FHP report.

Related Topics: Land O' Lakes Schools, Rushe Middle School Bus Accident, and pasco county schools

Chuck R

1:36 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

I saw this up close. You couldn't even see damage unless you looked for it. It's odd that anyone was hurt.The truck is tiny. The bus is huge. It looked like it occurred at low speed, almost like an innocuous parking lot mistake. Weird.

Reply
Comment_arrow

Inquisitive Reader

11:52 am on Tuesday, January 15, 2013

You see Chuck, what you are forgetting is that kids are NOT likely to make up pain on the scene of an accident like this. I just think it's a little, OK a lot insensitive for you to pass judgement like this. Kids for the most part are not going to think like sneaky adults when it comes to ins fraud etc. They don't wear any kind of belt so any kind of jolt can slam their arm, head whatever into the metal interior pieces of a bus. And Thank God it was minimal damage.

Comment_arrow

Rachel Lawless

9:59 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

No it didn't a couple of the students on the bus got injured but not seriously so stup complaining about it Chuck R!

Bobbi Lowery

2:12 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

My daughter said she knows this girl from some of her classes last year. We pray her injuries heal quickly!! From: Bobbi Jo and Kaylie Lowery

Reply

Shealyn De Pury

2:22 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

There were 3 other kids that went to the hospital. And thank you Bobbi Lowery. :)

Reply
Comment_arrow

jamila

9:58 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

hey shealyn so glad ur feeling better :) -jamila

Patch_comments_icon

Keli Sipperley

3:56 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

Hi Shealyn, are you doing all right? So sorry this happened.

Reply

Bobbi Lowery

6:43 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

You are SO welcome Shealyn!!! Are you feeling okay?

Reply

Gary De Pury

7:15 pm on Monday, January 14, 2013

Shealyn is at home. She will probably be sore but all is basically OK. Thanks for your thoughts and Keli, my phone rang off the hook. Your publication is really spreading.

Reply

Lori McCandrew

2:37 pm on Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Glad to hear it was only minor injuries for those involved and thankful that it wasn't worse. Speedy recovery to those involved.

Reply

flipinater

10:05 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

helo everybody i am a turd eater

Reply

flipinater

10:11 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

i am sorry about telling the trulth

Reply

flipinater

10:13 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

hihihihihihihihihihihihihihihihi

Reply

flipinater

10:19 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

i dont go t rushe but but i have friends that go their

Reply
Patch_comments_icon

Sherri Lonon

10:40 am on Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Hi Michael, it's my understanding that all the kids are OK.

Reply

Leave a comment