A crash involving a Marion County school bus turned fatal Wednesday afternoon after the driver of a pickup truck later died from injuries sustained in the collision, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash occurred around 2:50 p.m. at the intersection of State Road 40 and SE 177th Avenue.According to FHP, a Marion County school bus was traveling eastbound on SR 40 and had stopped at the intersection while waiting to turn left onto SE 177th Avenue.
Troopers said the bus then initiated the turn and failed to yield to an oncoming GMC pickup truck towing a trailer, resulting in an offset head-on collision.
The pickup truck driver, a 76-year-old Silver Springs man, was transported to HCA Hospital under trauma alert protocol with critical injuries. FHP later confirmed the man succumbed to those injuries, and the crash is now being investigated as a fatal traffic crash.
The school bus was occupied by the driver, a bus aide, and four children ages 5, 6, 7 and 10. No injuries were reported among anyone on the bus.
Troopers also noted a second school bus was stopped nearby on SE 177th Avenue at the time of the crash but was not involved.The roadway was temporarily shut down while emergency crews worked the scene and cleared the wreckage. The investigation remains active.
