Serious Bus Accident in Ocala on Southwest 49th Avenue on October 16, 2026

An off-duty Gainesville police officer suffered serious injuries when his patrol vehicle struck the rear of a stopped school bus on Southwest 49th Avenue in Ocala on the morning of October 16, 2026. Several people aboard the bus sustained minor injuries.

The bus was picking up children with its flashing lights activated and stop arm extended, according to Marion County Public Schools. Students, a driver and an aide were aboard. An exact count of injured bus occupants was not reported.

Marion County Fire Rescue received the emergency call shortly before 7 a.m. Emergency crews had to extricate the officer from his patrol vehicle. He was expected to recover.

The Florida Highway Patrol's initial investigation indicated that the officer had not noticed the stopped bus before the collision. Troopers were investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash.

The Gainesville Police Department said the officer had a take-home patrol vehicle because of where he lived. He was off duty at the time of the collision.

The crash occurred during a school pickup, when the bus was stopped for children to board. The reported dispatch time identifies when emergency responders received the call, not the exact time of impact.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises drivers to slow down and prepare to stop when a school bus displays flashing yellow lights. Its guidance also calls for drivers to remain stopped when red lights and an extended stop arm are displayed, until it is safe to proceed.