A Lakeland, FL man trying to help a dog was hit by a bus and killed Friday night, according to a Florida Highway Patrol report.
According to the Lakeland Ledger John Christopher Morgan, 22, stopped his car in the turning lane on State Road 60 in Plant City, FL just east of County Line Road in Plant City, FL . The incident occurred around 7 p.m. on Jan. 15 when Morgan and his friend and neighbor, Ray Callins, were stopped at a red light on State Road 60, in Plant City, FL. While in the left-turn lane at County Line Road in Plant City, FL they saw a truck hit a black Labrador that had been trying to cross the road.
"It's a tragic accident," Kraus said. "It doesn't look like there's any negligence on the part of the bus driver."
But his friend, an animal lover who had adopted strays, bolted out of the car, leaving Jersey, Morgan's butterscotch-colored dog, in the back seat.
Morgan was walking in the eastbound lanes of SR 60 in Lakeland, FL when an eastbound bus driven by James R. Borgiet of West Palm Beach, FL drove past while transporting middle school students on a field trip when they drove past, Callins stated. The sideview mirror struck Morgan in the head and snapped his neck. He remained standing for a moment before toppling into the grass.
Callins sat in shock. Then he ran out of the car, leaving the keys in the ignition and Jersey behind in the backseat., according to the FHP report.
An off-duty paramedic had also seen the accident. As she worked on Morgan, Callins called 911. But neither Morgan nor the black Labrador survived. Callins said Jersey watched from the back seat.
According to a recent article on child safety and school bus safety, every year school buses carry around 24 million students and collectively travel more than 4 billion miles. Considering how many kids the buses carry and the distance they cover, deaths on the road are extremely rare. School buses have a rate of 0.2 deaths per 100 million miles traveled. The rate of deaths in automobiles is eight times higher.
Rivas Law Group, LLC is located in Winter Haven, FL. Attorney Tania L. Rivas primarily practices personal injury law. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, please contact us for a free consultation. There is no fee or cost unless you win.
