An elderly Lake Wales, FL woman died Thursday from injuries sustained in a collision involving her car and a school bus, the Polk County Sheriff's Office reported. The only person aboard the bus at the time of the accident was the driver.
According to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, the crash occurred approximately at8:10 a.m. Thursday at South Ninth Street and Belleview Drive in Lake Wales, FL.
According to the News Chief, Ila Earlene Clem, 74, of Candlelight Loop, in Lake Wales, FL was driving a 2006 Hyundai Elantra north on South Nine Street, in Lake Wales, FL when, according to the accident report, she apparently ran a stop sign and pulled into the path of the 2009 Thomas Built school bus, which was traveling west on Belleview Drive, in Lake Wales, FL.
The bus struck the passenger's side of the Elantra and both vehicles began to spin, eventually coming to rest at the north corner of Belleview Avenue and South Ninth Street, in Lake Wales, FL according to the Sheriff's Office.
Clem first was taken to Lake Wales Medical Center, in Lake Wales, FL but then was flown to Lakeland Regional Medical Center, in Lakeland, FL where she died from her injuries.
The driver of the bus was identified by the Sheriff's Office as 52-year-old Charles Dale Money of Silver Spur Loop in Lake Wales, FL. He suffered only minor injuries.
Clem was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, but the bus driver was wearing his, the Polk County Sheriff's Office stated.
The crash remains under investigation.
According to the Florida Senate report on school bus driving training and bus maintenance, during 2002 almost one million public school students were passengers on school buses. During the 5-year period of 1998 through 2002, 4,830 school buses were involved in crashes in Florida. These crashes involved 32,207 children who were riding a school bus and 53 children who were outside a bus. Six children died in school bus related crashes. Two children were killed while riding in the school bus and four were killed while getting on and off a school bus. Fifty-six injuries required transportation of a victim from the crash site.
National statistics have consistently demonstrated that school buses constitute one of the safest forms of transportation. According to the National Research Council children are at far more risk traveling to and from school by bike, walking, or in private passenger vehicles -- especially if a teen-age driver is involved -- than in school buses.
Rivas Law Group, LLC is a law firm located in Winter Haven, FL, that practices personal injury law. Attorney Tania L. Rivas is dedicated to meeting the needs of injured victims in Polk County, FL. If you or a loved one has been injured, please call us at (877) 299-5539 for a free legal consultation. There is no fee unless you win your case.
