A sports utility vehicle making an improper U-turn was struck by a school bus on Tuesday morning in Ocala.
Shortly before 8:20 a.m., a 78-year-old woman from Ocala was traveling northbound on SW 20th Avenue Road, just south of SW 154th Street Road, in a 2019 Jeep Cherokee.
Behind the SUV, a 2020 Thomas school bus was also heading northbound on SW 20th Avenue Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol incident report, the SUV veered off the roadway and onto the grass shoulder located to the east. The SUV’s driver proceeded to make a U-turn to re-enter the roadway, and the left side of the SUV was struck by the front of the school bus.
After the collision, both drivers relocated their vehicles onto the grass shoulder. The driver of the SUV was transported to a local hospital for treatment of minor injuries, and she was also cited for an improper turn.
The FHP report indicated that the school bus had three occupants: the driver, a 44-year-old woman from Ocala, along with two minor students. There were no injuries reported on the school bus.
The names of the drivers and student passengers involved in the accident were not released, per FHP policy.
Last week, a 19-year-old driver backed into a school bus that was transporting 25 children in Ocala. According to FHP, there were a total of 2,700 crashes involving school buses in the state of Florida in 2021.
FHP is reminding all motorists to be alert and to drive with caution around school buses and in school zones where children may be present.