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Two Hurt In Hardee County School Bus Crash

STUDENT, FHP TROOPER RECEIVE MINOR INJURIES

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Joe Seelig

Published: November 18, 2008

WAUCHULA -
A school bus driver was cited and charged with turning left in front of approaching traffic Monday afternoon at U.S. 17 and Maxwell Drive, into the path of a Florida Highway Patrol vehicle, an FHP report stated.

An 11-year-old Hardee County school student and Florida Highway Patrol trooper James K. Cloud, 32, of Arcadia, escaped with minor injuries when the school bus, driven by William E. Bishop, 78, of Wauchula, reportedly turned left from southbound U.S. 17 into Cloud's path, according to FHP.

Cloud was headed northbound in his 2008 Dodge Charger when the bus attempted to turn into Maxwell Drive in front of him.

The front of the Charger hit the right side of the bus and spun clockwise coming to rest in the outside southbound lane of U.S. 17.

There were a total of 10 students between the ages of 7 and 13 on the bus, but only one received minor injuries. The other nine were unhurt.

Cloud was also wearing his seat belt, the report stated.

The 2002 bus was not equipped with safety belts for the students. The bus driver was wearing his seatbelt. Alcohol was not a factor, according to the report.

Both the Dodge and the school bus each sustained $10,000 in damages, according to the report.

Joe Seelig can be reached at (863) 386-5834 or jseelig@highlandstoday.com.

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