Fatal School Bus Accident in Winter Haven on Old Lucerne Park Road, October 05, 2026

A 10th-grade student riding a school bus and a person in a Jeep died in a multivehicle crash on Old Lucerne Park Road in Winter Haven, Florida, at about 6:15 a.m. Monday, October 5, 2026, according to authorities. The bus was traveling eastbound when it was struck by a westbound Chevrolet Malibu. Authorities said the impact caused the bus to lose control and a tire to come off. The bus then collided head-on with the Jeep. A rollover was also reported during the collision sequence. Authorities reported that three vehicles besides the school bus were involved in the crash. The bus carried 39 people, including 37 high school students who were heading to Winter Haven High School. The other two people aboard were the driver and the driver's 9-year-old daughter. Authorities had not released the identities of the student or the person in the Jeep who died. Lakeland Regional Health reported receiving 10 patients related to the crash. Those patients included two who were transported by air and two who were transferred from other area hospitals. At the time of the hospital's statement, seven patients had been treated and released. Two remained under evaluation, with one expected to be released. One patient had been admitted and remained in critical condition. Lucerne Park Road was closed in both directions following the crash. Drivers were advised to take alternate routes around the closure.