Two dead, including 10th‑grade student, in Winter Haven school bus crash

What happened

On Oct. 5, 2026, at about 6:13 a.m., a white Chevrolet Malibu travelling east on Lucerne Park Road (State Road 544) in Winter Haven veered across the yellow centre line for reasons still unknown. The car struck the rear tandem wheels of a Polk County school bus, tearing off one of the bus’s four rear tires. The loss of traction sent the bus swerving into the opposite lane, where it collided head‑on with a silver Jeep.

The impact rolled the bus onto its roof and left it in a ditch beside the roadway. Police later confirmed that the crash involved three vehicles in total.

Who was involved

The bus was carrying 39 occupants: 37 high‑school students, the bus driver and the driver’s nine‑year‑old daughter. Among the students was a 10th‑grade girl from Winter Haven High School; she was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Jeep, identified only as an occupant of the other vehicle, also died.

Sheriff Grady Judd of Polk County confirmed the deaths and said the victims were a "beautiful 10th‑grade girl" and "an occupant from one of the other vehicles." Superintendent Frederick Heid of Polk County Public Schools noted that the student was enrolled at Winter Haven High School.

Emergency response and injuries

More than 100 emergency personnel, including several helicopters, responded to the crash. At least five to seven trauma patients were air‑lifted, and a total of 26 students were taken to hospitals for treatment. The hospitals that received patients were AdventHealth Heart of Florida, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, Winter Haven Hospital, and Arnold Palmer Hospital for Women and Children.

Police reported that at least seven people sustained injuries, though the exact number was still being confirmed. The road closure extends from Old Lucerne Park Road to the Walmart Distribution Center, and officials urged drivers to use alternate routes while crews work at the scene.

Investigation

The Polk County Traffic Homicide team is leading the investigation. Sheriff Judd said the driver of the Chevrolet Malibu is cooperating with investigators, but no further details have been released. The sheriff’s office also announced that bus video and 911 call recordings will not be released on Monday, with a follow‑up news conference scheduled for Tuesday.

Community impact

Winter Haven High School released a statement expressing sorrow for the loss of its student and pledging support for those affected. Superintendent Heid reminded the community that students regularly practice bus‑evacuation drills, a protocol that may have helped prevent further fatalities.

The incident marks one of the most serious school‑bus accidents in the area in recent decades, according to Sheriff Judd’s remarks during the press briefing.

The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out any potential factors such as driver fatigue, vehicle malfunction, or road conditions.

---The crash underscores the importance of rigorous safety checks for school transportation and the need for swift emergency response when multi‑vehicle collisions occur on busy roadways.