Crash Involving School Bus, Semi-Truck Injures 8-Year-Old Student

PLANT CITY, FL – The eastbound lanes of State Road 60 near Horton Road near the Polk/Hillsborough County line were shut down Friday morning, Sept. 14, following a crash involving a school bus and a semi-truck.

The crash occurred at 6:10 a.m. A student on the Hillsborough County school bus sustained minor injuries.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the school bus driven by Phyllis Ann Meachum, 72, of Plant City was traveling north on Horton Road and was stopped at the intersection of SR 60. The tractor-trailer truck driven by Benjamin Garcia Alfonso, 42, of Tampa was traveling east on SR 60 in the left lane. And a 2016 Toyota Corolla driven by Johanes Dwelley, 31, of Mulberry was headed west on SR 60 in the left lane.

According to troopers, Meachum slowly edged the bus into the intersection and into the path of the semi-truck. Alfonso took evasive action to avoid a collision and steered the truck to the left. He lost control and the truck overturned in the road. The truck’s trailer spilled its load of lime rock on the road and collided with the front of the bus.

Dwelley also took evasive action, steering to the outside shoulder.

An 8-year-old boy on the bus sustained minor injuries and was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Meachum was issued a citation for violating the right of way.

Images via FHP

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