Truck Swerves To Avoid School Bus - Hits Three Children

WAUCHULA, FL. -- A driver of a 2000 Ford F-250 has been charged after hitting three school children waiting to board a school bus.

A Ford pickup driven by Louis Edward Stephen, 69 of Bowling Green, FL was traveling eastbound on SR 62 as a Hardee County school bus was stopped in the eastbound lane of SR 62 and was picking up children with the red lights flashing and stop signs extended.

The driver of the pickup stated that he did not realize the flashing lights were from a school bus but thought they were the red flashing lights at US 17. Once the driver realized that the lights were on a school
bus he was not able to stop.

To avoid a rear end collision he swerved towards the right in an attempt to avoid the bus.

The pickup traveled toward the south shoulder of SR 62 striking three children which were in the process of getting on the school bus. Two of the three children were transported to Florida Hospital in Wauchula and
one was air lifted to Tampa General with critical injuries, reported Florida Highway Patrol Trooper J.A. Irizarry.

In critical condition is Caylin Morgan Skipper, age 9; Savannah Keishawna Williams, age 6 with minor injuries, and Alexis Albivter-Martinez, age 8 with minor injuries. All were taken to Florida Hospital at Wauchula.

The driver was cited with failure to stop for a school bus.