5 Children Injured After Car Crashes Into School Bus Stop

TAMPA, FL -- Tampa Police are investigating a crash at a school bus stop at Bougainvillea Avenue and Marvy Avenue that left two students with serious injuries.

According to police, the accident occurred around 8 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 1.

Witnesses say a Ford Escort was heading east on Bougainvillea at a high rate of speed when it struck a group of students and two mothers waiting at a bus stop on the south side of the street. The mothers and five children ages 6 to 12 were transported to local hospitals. The Tampa Police Department said all seven victims are expected to recover.

The children attend Carter G. Woodson School for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Tampa Police Chief Brian Dugan and Mayor Bob Buckhorn arrived at the scene shortly after the accident. Dugan said the driver, Brian Darnell West, 47, of 58th Street Court, Tampa, is in custody but no charges have been filed. Police do not believe intoxication was a factor and they do not believe the crash was intentional. West remained at the scene and cooperated with police.

Among those injured were Alexandra Torres-Banegas, 6, Allinson Galindo, 6, Perla Galindo, 12, Sandy Quintana, 9, Enrique Antonio Tobias Patino, 6, Yanely Jurado, 31, and Laura Patino Chavez, 32.

More injuries occurred when a Tampa Fire Rescue vehicle headed to the crash scene was involved in a separate accident with a car.

Two Tampa firefighter paramedics were transported to Tampa General Hospital after colliding with a car at Bougainvillea and North Nebraska avenues at 8:15 a.m.

The rescue car was traveling south on Nebraska and turning east onto Bougainvillea when it was hit by a black sedan, which made contact with the driver's side of the rescue car causing it to hit a concrete power pole on the southeast corner of the intersection. The rescue car's driver, paramedic, was knocked unconscious as a result of the collision. Both of the occupants of the rescue car (the paramedic driver and a lieutenant) were transported to Tampa General Hospital for treatment and observation. Both of the firefighters are in stable condition.

The driver of the car was transported to Florida Hospital Tampa by Hillsborough County Fire Rescue.

Image via Tampa Police

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