Tractor-Trailer Hits School Bus With Students Onboard In Downtown Jacksonville

Eddie Farah
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Posted by Eddie FarahMarch 19, 2009 11:37 PM

This is a story that could have had a much worse ending.

A tractor-trailer rear-ended a school bus on a field trip in downtown Jacksonville this morning. The kids from Lake Forest Elementary were going to the Cummer Museum of Art.

Ten students had to be transported to local hospitals to be checked out.The driver was seen at a hospital as well.

None of the injuries was serious. This is very fortunate.

No word on how many children were onboard the bus. The accident happened around 11:30 Thursday morning. One mother came and retrieved her son at Union and Davis St., the site of the incident.

The truck belonged to J.B. Hunt which suffered a crunched right headlight. Luckily, there were no dents on the bus or any of its students.

Any driver understands - when they hit someone in front of them - they are the responsible party.

Consider this a lucky warning - but that doesn't mean some very serious questions need to be addressed by the trucking company. What was the driver of the truck doing? Was he on the cell phone? Did his brakes work? Was there anyone else in his cab who can confirm what happened? Other witnesses? Are there any records that can be checked? Were there any skid marks on the road?

Without skid marks, the driver might have been distracted by something.

J.B. Hunt will be held responsible for this and if it does its job, will take this incident very seriously.

The First Student bus company has the contract to carry students in Duval County. The company said “The safety of our students is our No. 1 priority…regardless of whether they’re in the classroom or in a school bus headed to an event. #

1 Comment

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Mike
Posted by Mike
March 27, 2009 12:18 AM

You do not have your facts correct. The tractor trailor did not rear end the bus. The bus side swiped the truck. If you notice in all of the pictures there is no damage to the rear of the bus. The damage is on the left side of the bus from the front to about 3/4's of the way down the side. Also, the bus driver was listed as most likely at fault. Another fact you have wrong is that it was not a JB Hunt truck. The trailor was from JB Hunt, but the truck was a private contractor. This is the report I recieved from First Student. The driver of the bus was not cited.

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