Truck with Jacksonville Mother and Child Collides with School Bus

An accident involving a truck and a school bus in downtown Jacksonville led to hospitalization for a mother and child. Despite the fact that the bus had its yellow warning flags on, the mother tried to pass the school bus on the left and was hit as the bus turned. The truck flipped several times until it landed in a fence and yard. The school bus accident occurred on Jacksonville’s East 11th Street just east of Martin Luther King Jr. Expressway.

Fortunately, the mother and child’s injuries were not life threatening. The school bus contained just two elementary school students in addition to the driver, none of whom were injured.

Considering a school bus weighs up to 40,000 pounds when filled to capacity, it is critical that motorists adhere strictly to school bus safety laws. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), nearly 10,000 motorists illegally pass school buses every day. Ignoring school bus safety laws can have grave consequences; the NHTSA reports an average of 35 students die in school bus accidents each year. It is against the law for drivers to pass a school bus when its amber or red lights are flashing.

Written by Elizabeth Allen
If you need help in understanding liability regarding a school bus accident, please contact one of our Jacksonville attorneys.