One Killed, Many Injured In FL School Bus Crash

CITRA, FL — School officials in north Florida are crediting passers-by with keeping a fiery school bus accident from becoming an even greater tragedy.

The bus caught fire after it was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer yesterday afternoon. One of the 20 middle and high school students on the bus was killed. Several others were injured, two critically.

The superintendent of Marion County schools says the surviving students are lucky to be alive. Jim Yancey tells the Ocala Star-Banner that half the students managed to get themselves off the bus, but at least four bystanders helped rescue the others. Yancey says the students who escaped were showing “grief and remorse” for not being able to help the others.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was taken to a hospital with head injuries. Police say charges are pending against him.