Police officer crashes patrol car into school bus stopped picking up children; 4 sent to hospital

OCALA, Fla. (WCJB/Gray News) - A police officer in Florida has been sent to the hospital after crashing his patrol car into a Marion County school bus Friday morning.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, troopers responded to a reported crash on Southwest 49th Avenue involving a Gainesville police officer in a marked patrol car that collided with the school bus.

Troopers investigating the crash say the bus was stopped in the southbound lane with lights flashing and the stop sign extended as it prepared to pick up children at a bus stop.

The off-duty officer driving behind the bus failed to stop and crashed into the back of it, authorities said.

Thirteen children were on the bus, and one student was taken to the hospital as a precaution. The bus driver and the bus aide were also taken to the hospital as a precaution.

The Gainesville police officer was taken to the hospital, and troopers say his injuries were “very serious,” but not life-threatening.